LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) – President Obama, during his annual
address to Congress this week, called on states to keep students in
high school until age 18.
     Unlike most states, Wisconsin has already adopted that
requirement. Educators say changing the exit age or graduation rate
can only do so much – programs and support are needed to keep teens
interested.
     The National Center for Education Statistics says 30 states,
including Minnesota and Iowa, allow students to drop out before 18.
Onalaska School District Superintendent Fran Finco tells the La
Crosse Tribune (http://bit.ly/xioiVE) that if the president’s aim
is to improve the number of students who are ready for college or
work by the time they leave high school, educators will have to
much more than fall back on state law.
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     Information from: La Crosse Tribune,
http://www.lacrossetribune.com