The House Education Committee has narrowly passed a bill to lower the mandatory school age in South Dakota from 18 to 16.
Students were allowed to drop out at the age of 16 in the state prior to the law being changed in 2009.
Representative Lana Greenfield of Doland is the bill’s sponsor. She says schools have become holding tanks.
Representative Fred Deutsch of Florence opposed the bill. He says a GED just isn’t the same as a high school diploma.
Interim Secretary of Education, Dr. Ben Jones, also opposed the measure.
The bill passed on an 8-6 vote and now moves to the House floor.
(Brookings Radio)