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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Wightman said allowing students to drop out of high school early is an obsolete mechanism that is no longer needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps allowing a 16-year-old to drop out of school was acceptable 50 years ago when we had a more agrarian society,\u201d Wightman said. \u201cHowever, the era where a high school dropout can earn a living wage is no more.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Chad Denker, Seward High School principal, supported the bill. He said the bill would help schools fulfill their mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cSchools want students to receive a high school diploma,\u201d he said. \u201cWe understand the number of doors that opens for them.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\u2019 private business.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhenever our Legislature creates more laws that strip parents of autonomy, we oppose them,\u201d she said. \u201cWe respect the rights of parents to raise their own children.\u201d<\/p>\n
The committee took no immediate action on the bill.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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