KY House Votes to Raise High School Dropout Age

The Kentucky House has approved legislation that would raise the school dropout age to 18. House Bill 216 would require all school districts to have the dropout age at 18, unlike a bill that passed the Senate Feb. 8 which let local school boards decide the age. The bill's sponsor, Democrat Jeff Greer says allowing children to drop out of school when they're 16 or 17 is costly to them and the state. They earn less and are more likely to be on public assistance or be incarcerated for crimes. The bill would raise the dropout age to 17 in 2016 and to 18 in 2017.