A bill that would gradually raise the dropout age for Kentucky students has won approval from the state House by a wide margin. Now the scene shifts to the Senate, where the proposal's fate is uncertain.

The bill - a pet project of first lady Jane Beshear - cleared
the House on a 91-8 vote Thursday.
The legislation would increase the minimum age for quitting
school to 17 in 2015 and 18 in 2016 in a state where 6,000 students
dropped out in 2009. Currently, Kentucky students can drop out of
school at 16.

A similar bill passed the House last year but died in the
Senate.

Senate President David Williams said Thursday that the Senate
will "take a good look" at the bill. Williams said there would be
Senate opposition to a "window-dressing" proposal that won't have
much impact.
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The legislation is House Bill 225.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)