Font Size

Boston Area News

E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Committee To Discuss Bills On Dropout Age In MA

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

Recipient E-mail:*
- Your Name:*
- Your E-mail:*
Add a Message:
Send me a copy of this e-mail.

Type the characters in this picture:*

Click here to refresh with new letters

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

Print Share + Comments

Nov 8, 2009 2:17 pm US/Eastern

Committee To Discuss Bills On Dropout Age In MA

BOSTON (AP) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: (File Image)
CBS

Close

numSlides of totalImages

The Massachusetts Legislature is taking aim at the state's high school dropout rate.

Each year some 10,000 students quit school, a choice they can make on their own once the reach age 16.

They also can quit as young as 14 if their local superintendent agrees for medical or employment reasons, or to perform non-wage work at home.

A series of bills being discussed Tuesday by the Joint Committee on Education propose raising the dropout age to 18.

Nineteen states already have that dropout age, and the committee's House chairwoman agrees.

Democratic Rep. Marty Walz says keeping kids in school those extra two years vastly increases their chances for success in life. Educators need to find ways to keep students interested through flexible schedules, vocational opportunities and fresh educational approaches.