Faced with a growing problem of teenaged crime, substance abuse and unemployment, some educators and elected officials are pushing legislation nationwide that would require students to stay in school until they are 18 years old.
Childcare advocates are taking aim at states with laws that require compulsory school attendance only up to the age of 16, and are urging local lawmakers to pass legislation that would raise the age to 18.
Supporters of the move say keeping teens in school until they reach 18 will provide them with a supervised environment at a time when many of them are most vulnerable to getting into trouble. Educators also argue that an additional year or two of instruction and training will provide students who might otherwise drop out of school at 16 with more skills that will help them find work in an increasingly demanding job market.
Nearly 20 states already require 18-years-olds to stays in school. New Jersey is among the states that require compulsory attendance age stops at 16. But that would change if a bill introduced earlier this by state Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman becomes law.
The statement attached to Coleman’s measure, Assembly Bill No. 1759, spells out the law’s intent.
"Societal changes and the increasing demands of the labor market continue to place a premium on education. A person who stops attending school at age 16 often lacks the skills and preparation to successfully compete in the workforce and function in society."
"Requiring students to attend school until the age of 18 will help ensure that students receive an adequate education and are sufficiently prepared to compete in the labor market and function in society."
Boards of education in several Essex County municipalities have been requested to support the Coleman bill. The Newark Board of Education passed a resolution of support last week. Officials in Bloomfield are considering the measure.
During a public comment portion of the Montclair Board of Education’s meeting last week, resident Kabir Baber urged Montclair’s seven-member board to endorse the Coleman bill.
"This effort addresses two important issues," Baber explained. "It will make sure that teens have a structured environment and will not spent their days unsupervised.
"Staying in school will mean that teens, especially those at risk, will get additional help and develop skills they will need to have when they try to join the workforce."
Baber said he feels so strongly about the need for a structured environment for older teens that he is working on plans to revive a after-school program.
Under New Jersey’s Compulsory Education Law, children between six and 16 years are required to attend school. Parents of students who do not comply can face convictions as disorderly persons and face a fine of $25 for a first offense and fines of up to $100 for subsequent offenses.
New Jersey is one of 24 states that mandate school attendance up to 16. The group includes Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Eight states, including Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee have set the limit at age 17.
Eighteen states require school attendance through age 18. They include California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire (effective July 2009), New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin.
