Senate debates raising dropout age

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In an effort to improve Wyoming Graduation rates, Senator Chris Rothfuss is pushing a bill that would require students to stay in school until graduation or age 18. 

If they need to drop out of school between the ages of 16 and 18, they will require written parental permission.  Currently Wyoming students can drop out of school after the age of 16. 

Rothfuss says they are trying to raise the education bar. 

Fellow Senator Bill Landen had opposed the bill, but he says he’s changed his mind.

“If we really want accountability in education and want this education system to improve, I think it’s ok to have this little cultural shift where we tell our young people, you know we expect you to go to school until you are 18 years old,” Landen says.

Senator John Schiffer opposes the measure saying that it won’t make a bit of difference.  He says it’s up to school districts to provide a curriculum that keeps students engaged.  The bill will be debated two more times.