Wyoming School Boards Want To Raise Dropout Age To 18

School board members across Wyoming want to raise the dropout age for high school students.

Currently, students can drop out of school once they hit 16. School board members gathered for a recent statewide conference recently agreed the age should be increased to 18.

The change would have to be made by the state Legislature. The chairman of the Laramie County School District 1, Brian Farmer, told the Wyoming Tribune Eagle that lawmakers likely wouldn't consider the age change until the 2013 session. The upcoming session will deal with budget matters and any non-budget matters must have two-thirds support to be introduced.

Farmer said students who work now have other options, like online schools, that should prevent them from having to end their education.