All of Kentucky’s 173 public school districts have approved policies to increase the dropout age from 16 to 18.
The General Assembly passed a law in 2013 giving school districts the option of raising the dropout age. Once 55 percent of districts did so, it would trigger a four-year deadline for everyone else to raise the age. Democratic Governor Steve Beshear said districts beat that deadline by one year.
"What we've done is send a message," said Beshear in a news conference Thursday. "We've sent a message to the kids, their parents, and communities that education matters and that we care about these children."
All but seven public school districts will have the new policy in place this fall. It will take effect for the rest in the 2017-18 school year.
The Kentucky Department of Education provided each district with a $10,000 grant to help implement the higher dropout age.
