A bill introduced in the state Legislature would increase the compulsory attendance age to 18 from 16.

Students who drop out of high school face a life-long uphill battle. Jobs for dropouts are limited, and fewer companies are willing to hire them every day. Finishing high school shouldn&8217;t be an option, it should be a requirement to enter adulthood.

According to a report by the Alliance for Excellent Education, high school dropouts cost the state billions of dollars in lost wages, taxes and productivity over their lifetimes &8212; meaning there is an economic reason for the government to require attendance past the age of 16.

For some, there are compelling reasons to drop out of high school when the law now allows them to, whether it&8217;s to help support their family financially or raise a child, but there are also those who drop out for selfish reasons. Many who drop out for family reasons return to earn their GED; but many who drop out never return.

However, with the increased compulsory attendance age, the state should also look at increased funding for vocational training in high schools, and prepare for the fact that such a law will increase costs for school districts. Other states have backed off plans to increase the dropout age because of the additional costs; but Minnesota has always led the nation in education, and backing off the bill because of cost alone would betray that tradition.

&8212; Austin Daily Herald, March 12