What do you think: A 16 year old should have the authority to sign himself out of school (dropout)?

146th General Assembly:  House Bill # 244

Primary Sponsor: Heffernan

Additional Sponsor(s):   Sen. Sokola

CoSponsors: Reps. Atkins, Bolden, Q. Johnson, Keeley, Longhurst, Mitchell, Schooley, Scott, B. Short, Walker, D.E. Williams; Sens. Katz, Sorenson

Jan 17, 2012 – Introduced and Assigned to Education Committee in House

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 14 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SCHOOL ATTENDANCE.

“Synopsis:  This Act increases the age requirement for compulsory school attendance in Delaware from 16 to 18 years of age. The age increase is phased in over a two-year period; accordingly, there is a one-year interim period where the compulsory school attendance age requirement will be 17 years old.”

“The Act further provides that a child may be exempt from the age requirement for compulsory school attendance if the child has graduated from high school or if the child is at least 16 years old and is necessarily and lawfully employed. The Act preserves the exemption where a child may be excused from compulsory attendance upon request of the child’s parent or legal guardian coupled with supporting written documentation from a qualified health professional.”

I touched base on this issue in the past recently as December 22, 2011, DEDOE; the dog ate my homework re: high school dropout summary 2010-2011.

Children should not just walk away from school without at least parents signing documents. At least getting the student and parent sitting down together there could be one last positive attempt to save the student from a terrible mistake. Some say forcing student to stay whereas they don’t want to be there will add to discipline problems. Pretty much this legislation is needed.

Advertisement