A public school student would be required to attend school until age 18 under a bill advanced from general file Feb. 22.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe era where a high school dropout can earn a living wage is over,\u201d Wightman said. \u201cIt is in the best interest of the child to stay in school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scottsbluff Sen. John Harms supported the bill, saying that it is important that students remain in school and receive a diploma.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an opportunity for us to say we have better expectations of students and to keep them in school,\u201d Harms said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can make them attend school, but you can\u2019t legislate ambition,\u201d Louden said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Wightman agreed to work with Council on an amendment that would address those concerns before the next round of debate.<\/p>\n
Senators voted to advance the bill to select file 29-17.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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