Bill Would Raise High School Dropout Age

A bill recently introduced in the Minnesota Senate would raise the high school drop-out age from 16 to 18. North St. Paul State Senator Chuck Wiger is the bill's sponsor. He said nearly 5,000 students drop out of Minnesota public schools every year. Wiger said students who drop out are at higher risk for a lower quality of life. He said students drop out for a variety of reasons; they're failing, they're bored, or they just don't see the link between education and future quality of life.