Senate Passes Bill To Raise Dropout Age To 18

The Senate has passed its own version of legislation that would require students to stay in school until they're 18, up from the current dropout age of 16.

The vote was 36-2 Thursday, a week after the House unanimously passed a similar proposal. Each chamber will consider the other's legislation.

Both bills would give local school districts the power to raise the compulsory school age to 18.

Proponents of both bills have said a high school diploma greatly increases a person's quality of life. Critics have said the requirement would be unfunded and counterproductive. They said it could disrupt classes by forcing students who want to drop out to stay in school.