Address the dropout rate

Last Monday the Orange County Board of Education adopted a symbolic measure that would raise the minimum dropout age to 18. The N.C. General Assembly should follow suit and attempt to address our increasing dropout rate statewide.

The 2006-07 dropout rate for North Carolina high schools was the highest figure in seven years.

Orange County's resolution was an attempt to address the fact that more than three quarters of N.C. student dropouts were ages 16 to 18.

The state has a vested interest in making sure its students graduate. A study released in 2007 estimated that students who drop out before high school graduation cost the state $169 million each year in higher Medicaid and prison costs and lost sales tax revenue.

Requiring students to attend school until age 18 certainly does not guarantee that they will graduate but it may discourage them from dropping out.

Further North Carolina would be sending a strong signal that it expects students to graduate high school which studies have shown increases wages.

However raising the compulsory attendance age may not be the best solution to the state's increasing dropout rates.

Some students are forced to leave school early in order to support their families. But without a high school degree or vocational skills a living wage is hard to come by.

Schools could provide additional vocational training to encourage students to stay in school to earn their high school degree.

The N.C. General Assembly should explore an increase in the compulsory attendance age in order to curb high drop out rates but also make sure that schools are attentive to the needs of those students who are at risk of dropping out.

Although Orange County does not have the authority to change statewide school policy officials were right to send a strong signal to Raleigh that swift action is needed to ensure our state's students have the tools they need to compete in today's economy.