FRANKFORT, KY - Governor Beshear's office said on Thursday that nearly 60 school districts from across the state have voted to increase their compulsory attendance age, and many of those are in west Kentucky.

The 'Graduate Kentucky' bill passed the Senate this year, and phases in an increase in the compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 18, amending the school attendance law that was created in 1934.

Governor Beshear said he's ecstatic.

"The fact that so many districts have adopted the graduation age so quickly shows that our communities understand the importance of changing this antiquated policy, and I congratulate them for their action," the Governor said.

The implementation of Senate Bill 97 is voluntary until 55% of the state's school districts adopt the policy. It will be at that point that the remaining school districts must adopt the policy, but there will be a four-year grace period for implementation.

The west Kentucky school districts that have adopted the policy are the following:

Christian County
Dawson Springs Independent
Bowling Green Independent
Fulton Independent
Hopkins County
Logan County
Marshall County
Mayfield Independent
McCracken County
Murray Independent
Paducah Independent
Union County