Sticking with it

Teens need to know how much the state values an education. Requiring students to stay in school until 18 would help

Let's acknowledge from the start that a 17-year-old or 18-year-old who doesn't want to go to school, and who doesn't care about the consequences, simply won't go. North Carolina's current mandatory attendance age is 16, but that doesn't stop 15-year-olds who are so inclined from playing hooky until they can leave school legally. Or they may show up for class physically after having dropped out months ago when it comes to studying, homework and effort. Those students are just as much dropouts as the unfortunate fellow with a dead-end job and no diploma.

Nevertheless, increasing the mandatory attendance age would be a worthwhile step. Durham's city, county and school elected officials have asked state lawmakers to make it illegal for youngsters to leave school before the age of 17 next year and before 18 beginning in the 2010-11 school year. The General Assembly has considered the request in past years. North Carolina is one of 24 states that lets students walk away from education at an age that arguably is at the tipping point of mature decision-making.

By increasing the age at which dropping out is legal, North Carolina would be giving teenagers another reason to stay in school until a time closer to maturity. It's impossible to know how many students stay in school and stay engaged academically, even if they don't want to, because leaving would be against the law. Research isn't conclusive enough to say whether 16, 17 or 18 is the ideal mandatory attendance age. But a young person on the fence is more apt to remain in school through the confusing teen years if quitting means trouble with the law.

It's also the case that North Carolina would send an important signal by increasing the age limit. Dropping out is a near guarantee of a diminished future. The average dropout makes $10,000 a year less than his peer who has a high school diploma. The majority of prison inmates left school before graduation. In the global economy, a high school diploma is even more critical to success.

It's no doubt true that keeping more students in school would be costly, because counties would have to provide more space. But that's poor reasoning. Those with inferior education usually end up costing taxpayers more in the long run.

A better counter-argument is that students forced to stay in school would disrupt classrooms. But bad behavior is already a problem that needs more attention, even though kids can quit school at 16.

No single change is likely to eliminate the state's problem with its dropout rate, which is among the nation's highest. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, for instance, is working to reform high school curricula and to scale down giant-sized schools. Such efforts would need to continue even if the minimum dropout age were increased. But making it harder for youngsters to drift way from school looks to be a valuable step.