Kentucky's high school graduation rates are always below national averages.

One group says increasing the age at which a child can leave school will improve those numbers.

In years past, Terry Brooks With Kentucky Youth Advocates says you could drop-out of school at the age 16 and still make a decent living, but times have changed.

Some believe kids are receiving mixed messages.

So when the general assembly meets in January, officials with the Kentucky Youth Advocates say they plan to propose legislation that would raise the legal age to drop out of school from 16 to 18 years old.

It is part of the organizations "Blueprint for Kentucky's Children" initiative.

More than 60 non-profit groups and other social service agencies helped on the project.

People we spoke to say they support K-Y-A's push to raise the drop-out age requirement.

“It would save a lot of kids because some kids mature a little bit later in life and the education especially here in the mountains is vital for our young kids here,” Al Holland Sr. said.

Getting the bill passed in the House and Senate may prove difficult, but Brooks believes many lawmakers are open to the idea.

Brooks says a cap on interest rates for payday loan operations is also part of the proposed bill.