Bill would raise dropout age to 18

A bill that would raise the legal

school dropout age to 18 received both support and opposition

during a hearing last week.

About a dozen people testified on both

sides of the issue in regard to the bill introduced by Republican

Sen. Taylor Brown of Huntley.

Supporters said they are concerned with

the dropout rate and that the current requirement that children

must attend school through age 16 is no longer enough to be

successful in today’s society. Opponents said parents should make

that decision and that forcing students who don’t want to attend

would only make it harder for teachers to teach and students to

learn.

Brown addressed a senate hearing on

Education and Cultural Resources, and urged lawmakers to pass

Senate Bill 44. Brown said the law hasn’t been changed since it was

adopted in 1921.

“The current requirement is simply not

enough in this society,” he said.

Brown said home schools, “are not

impacted by this bill.”

A number of state residents with ties

to home schools later testified against the bill.

Steve White, representing the Montana

Coalition of Home Educators, said “this does affect home-schoolers

in Montana.”

White said the bill could be construed

to put home schools under the same academic requirements as public

schools.

“That’s very significant to us,” he

said.

Opponents also pointed to the fiscal

note of $1 million attached to the bill.

Brown said it will cost more money but

that arguing about the cost is like saying the state could save

money by talking more kids into dropping out of school.

Denise Juneau, the superintendent of

public instruction, said the bill was introduced by Brown at the

request of her office. She said more than 2,000 students drop out

of school each year in Montana.

“There are no throw away kids,” Juneau

said. “In today’s economic climate it is imperative that a student

have a diploma or certificate.”

After the hearing, Republican Sen. Eric

Moore of Miles City said he is not certain how he plans to vote on

the bill.

“It’s a complex issue,” Moore said. “I

think the question arises in terms of efficacy.”