House Passes Bill To Raise Dropout Age

{Frankfort, Kentucky}...The Kentucky House of Representatives voted 87-10 Thursday approving legislation that would raise the school dropout age to 18. The bill would raise the dropout age to 17 in 2016 and to 18 in 2017. Democratic Representative Jeff Greer of Brandenburg, the sponsor, says allowing children to drop out of school at the age of 16 or 17 is costly to them and the state because they earn less and are more likely to be on public assistance or be incarcerated for crimes. Greer says only 19 states, including Kentucky, allow students to leave high school at the age of 16 without graduating.