Dave Wheeler: Raising the dropout age won't cut the dropout rate

By DAVE WHEELER
Another View
Wednesday, Mar. 22, 2006

GOV. JOHN LYNCH'S plan to extend the compulsory school attendance age to 18 years of age is, simply put, a bad idea.

Senate Bill 268, if passed, would cost the citizens of New Hampshire a bundle, and all that money would be wasted because this plan will not reduce high school dropout rates. While the governor's goal to improve graduation rates for our youth is certainly admirable, this approach simply doesn't work, as demonstrated in states all around the country.

A recent Cornell University study compared states that have a compulsory school attendance age (CSA) of 16 with states that have a CSA of 17 and 18. According to this study, the three-year average graduation rate of CSA 16 states, like New Hampshire, was higher than CSA 17 or 18 states. In fact, when Kansas and Texas imposed a mandatory attendance age of 18, graduation rates did not increase as expected, but declined.

The study also concluded that illegal drug use, low academic achievement, disciplinary problems and adolescent parenthood were the strongest factors that place a student at risk for dropping out of school. The study went on to conclude that still "more money will be needed for school funding, additional teachers and possibly more schools." The researchers estimated the cost for the state of New York to be approximately $63 million.

The additional spending for the governor’s initiative will be placed on the already burdened New Hampshire property tax payer and start the clamoring for another broadbased tax. Could this be the governor’s intent?

"Personal costs include higher rates of disruption for teachers and current students," the study concluded. With these issues in mind, the study wrapped up by stating that the researchers "do not recommend that New York state implement the proposal to raise the compulsory school attendance age for the simple reason that it would not accomplish its intended goals. Careful analysis of statistical data reveals that there would be little, if any, positive effect in increasing high school completion rates and decreasing dropout rates. Furthermore, there would be significant monetary costs that just would not make this policy cost-effective."

Promoters of SB 268 are turning a blind eye to the facts and ignoring real data that show choice and competition are actually the proven ways to improve education. If passed, this poorly crafted bill will create enormous confusion regarding enforcement and amount to an unfunded mandate on towns and cities.

Teachers will have to struggle with the task of making unruly students behave and cooperate while incarcerated in the classroom. Disruptive students will rob good students of their opportunity to learn. Communities will need to fund additional special classes and activities for unwilling attendees, as seen in California when the compulsory attendance age was raised.

In addition, many productive, non-traditional students who attend trade schools, co-ops, home school and college will need to carry proof of graduation to drive to class or work. How will the police distinguish between those people engaged in government-sanctioned activity and those who are truant?

Most disturbing is the governor’s apparent lack of trust in parents and students to make their own choices. While key administrators testified against this legislation, it is interesting to note that many bureaucrats who are pushing this mandatory entitlement are from the same crowd that opposes real education improvements, like charter schools, home schooling and other mechanisms that promote school competition.

The condescending attitude of education elites who monopolized the public hearings on this bill made the governor’s big government agenda increasingly obvious. Apparently government knows what’s best for you and this heavy-handed action will make certain that you comply.

Requiring unwilling students to stay even longer in a school does nothing but disrupt the education of those who want to learn. It’s time to scrap this idea and promote real educational reforms.


Dave Wheeler of Milford served as a state representative, state senator and executive councilor.