Senate Passes Bill to Raise Dropout Age to 18

Enlarge image

Credit Andrei Niemimäki / wikimedia commons

The Senate has passed its own version of legislation that would require students to stay in school until they're 18, up from the current dropout age of 16. The vote was 36 - 2 yesterday. The House unanimously passed a similar proposal last week. Each chamber will consider the other's legislation.

Both bills would give local school districts the power to raise the compulsory school age to 18. Proponents of both bills say a high school diploma greatly increases a person's quality of life. But critics say the requirement would be unfunded and counterproductive, noting that forcing students to stay in school could disrupt classes.