By Tony McVeigh
Frankfort, KY – First Lady Jane Beshear is urging Kentucky lawmakers to approve legislation boosting the state's dropout age from 16 to 18 by July 2014. The former Woodford County High School teacher says dropouts have many reasons for not graduating.
"Whatever their reason, that outcome is still the same. Dropouts earn less than $6800 a year than high school graduates. They're more likely to battle addiction. They're more likely to end up in our prison and jail systems. They're generally unhealthy. And they consume a lot of our social services."
Despite the first lady's backing, the compulsory attendance bill remains in limbo. With House Education committee members raising numerous questions about the measure, action on the bill was delayed.