DOVER, Del. (AP) - Delaware lawmakers are once again proposing to increase the age for compulsory school attendance.
A bill expected to be filed on Thursday raises the age through which students must attend school from 16 to 18. The age increase would be phased in over a two-year period, starting in 2022 with students required to stay in school through age 17.
The legislation is similar to bills filed in recent years and aims to encourage more Delaware children to graduate from high school.
The legislation allows for alternative routes to completing high school for children 16 and older, including independent study and online courses. It also allows a child to be excused from required attendance at the request of a parent or legal guardian with written support from a qualified health professional.
