As the dropout age increases to 18 for most Kentucky public schools next academic year, the state education department will be closely monitoring its data.
Among the indicators that will be watched is the number of students who opt out for homeschooling.
Education Commissioner Terry Holliday says currently, less than 1 percent of the public school population is opting out each year.
He says the education department will use that number to measure against future data.
“We want to carefully monitor and make sure that we don’t see a significant spike in home school," added Holliday.
Holliday says the agency will primarily monitor students age 16 and above, who will soon be required to stay in public school.
Holliday says the department will also monitor grade retention, alternative and career and technical school participation and student behaviors.
