Senators advance requirement to attend school until age 18

A public school student would be required to attend school until age 18 under a bill advanced from general file Feb. 22.

LB996, introduced by Lexington Sen. John Wightman, would raise the age of compulsory attendance from 16 to 18 years of age. A student who meets graduation requirements prior to reaching age 18 would be exempt from the requirement.

Currently, a student may terminate school enrollment with the notarized consent of a parent or guardian at age 16. Wightman said the original reasoning behind the current law no longer applies.

“The era where a high school dropout can earn a living wage is over,” Wightman said. “It is in the best interest of the child to stay in school.”

Scottsbluff Sen. John Harms supported the bill, saying that it is important that students remain in school and receive a diploma.

“This is an opportunity for us to say we have better expectations of students and to keep them in school,” Harms said.

Opponents of the bill argued that requiring the attendance of students who no longer want to be in school would create a distraction for others. Ellsworth Sen. LeRoy Louden said requiring students to stay in school would not guarantee they would earn their diploma.

“You can make them attend school, but you can’t legislate ambition,” Louden said.

Omaha Sen. Brenda Council said the language of the bill would not provide a way for parents, under certain circumstances, to legally withdraw their child from school.

Wightman agreed to work with Council on an amendment that would address those concerns before the next round of debate.

Senators voted to advance the bill to select file 29-17.