Bill would extend compulsory school attendance

Public school students would be legally required to remain in school until age 18 under a bill discussed in an Education Committee hearing Jan. 30.

Currently, a student can unenroll from high school at age 16 with the notarized consent of a parent or guardian. LB996, introduced by Lexington Sen. John Wightman, would extend the requirement by two years.

Wightman said allowing students to drop out of high school early is an obsolete mechanism that is no longer needed.

“Perhaps allowing a 16-year-old to drop out of school was acceptable 50 years ago when we had a more agrarian society,” Wightman said. “However, the era where a high school dropout can earn a living wage is no more.”

The provisions of the bill would apply only to students enrolled in public schools. Students who earn a high school diploma before turning 18 also would be exempt.

Chad Denker, Seward High School principal, supported the bill. He said the bill would help schools fulfill their mission.

“Schools want students to receive a high school diploma,” he said. “We understand the number of doors that opens for them.”

Melanie Williams-Smotherman, Family Advocacy Movement executive director, testified in opposition, saying the bill was simply another example of the Legislature unnecessarily intervening in families’ private business.

“Whenever our Legislature creates more laws that strip parents of autonomy, we oppose them,” she said. “We respect the rights of parents to raise their own children.”

The committee took no immediate action on the bill.