Legislation to raise New Jersey’s compulsory school attendance to 18 years of age was released today by an Assembly panel. The bill,sponsored by Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman would raise the age requirement for compulsory school attendance from 16 to 18 years of age. Students who graduate high school before their 18th birthday would be exempt.
“Societal changes and the increasing demands of the labor market continue to place a premium on education,” said Watson Coleman (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). “A person who stops attending school at age 16 will always lack the skills and preparation to successfully compete in the workforce and function in society. Requiring students to attend school until they’re 18 will help ensure that students receive an adequate education and are sufficiently prepared to compete in the labor market.”
High school drop outs are more likely to live in poverty, receive government assistance, become involved in crime and suffer from poor health.
“Quite simply – and quite tragically – too many of our students are being allowed to walk away before they’ve completed their education and built a foundation for their future,” Watson Coleman said. “Futures are being lost under our current law.”
According to reports, high school dropouts cost between $320 billion and $350 billion annually in lost wages, taxable income, health, welfare and incarceration costs. About a quarter of those who entered high school this year won’t earn a diploma, and according to the National Center for Education Statistics, someone who did not complete high school will earn about $630,000 less over their lifetime than someone who has at least a GED.
The bill was released by the Assembly Education Committee. TLS.
so let me get this straight, with this bill we can now have someone still in high school at the age of 18 and if the draft even come back they be able to draft you into the army while attending High School !!!!!!
Can you say STUPID !!
This is a really really really DUMB idea !
I hope it doesn’t pass. Most of our kids graduate high school at 17 1/2 and then go on to seminary, yeshiva, etc. They don’t need another year of high school. Those who don’t go further in their education usually get jobs. Kids who want to drop out at 16 will do so any way. Kids who care won’t.
#1 I guess you didn’t read the article. It says specific if you finish high school before you are 18 its not required to do more school
1) what percentage of “our kids” actually graduate high school?
2) it clearly states “Students who graduate high school before their 18th birthday would be exempt.”
3) it has been shown in research that the higher the education the higher the lifetime income
WOW here we go again, my comment was the first to be posted and yet is still in moderation WHY?
I hope you all enjoyed a Good Shabbos. The difference between the public and private schools are huge. It’s easy for you to comment without living the daily life of a child in public school.
Let me suggest you call a BOE member for a tour of the public schools, then comment