Increasing the Compulsory Age of Education in Maryland

The compulsory age of education has been an issue before the Maryland General Assembly for over a decade but became a priority this year, in part because of continued support to address education gaps and drop-out rates.  President Obama used the State of the Union Address to challenge states to set the compulsory age at 18 years old.  The legislation passed this year by the General Assembly, Senate Bill 362, establishes a long-term phase-in to determine interventions that need to be in place locality-by-locality and prepares for the impact of changing the age from 15 to 17 years old between now and the 2017-2018 school year.

The bill specifies that the compulsory school attendance ages do not apply to an individual who (1) has obtained a Maryland high school diploma, an equivalent out-of-state high school diploma, or a GED; (2) is a student with disabilities and has completed the requirements for a Maryland high school certificate of completion; (3) is receiving regular, thorough instruction during the school year in the studies usually taught in the public schools or has completed such a program; (4) is severely ill and requires home or hospital instruction; (5) is married; (6) is in military service; (7) is committed by a court order to an institution without an educational program; (8) provides financial support to his or her family; (9) has been expelled from school; (10) is pregnant or a parent and is enrolled in an alternative educational program; (11) attends an alternative educational program; (12) attends a public school on a part-time basis while also attending a private career school; or (13) is waived from the compulsory attendance age requirements by the State Superintendent of Schools.

The bill requires MSDE, in consultation with the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation (DLLR), to develop a GED Options Program and request departmental legislation necessary to implement the program. The GED Options Program allows a student to participate in a GED preparation program without dropping out of school, while the traditional GED program does not allow a student to be enrolled in school while participating in preparation programs.

Additionally, Senate Bill 362 establishes numerous reporting requirements to help the State prepare for and monitor the implementation of the bill. By September 1, 2013, MSDE must submit a compilation of reports prepared by local boards of education and recommend programs, interventions, and services