HR275: HR275 State of Georgia; increase minimum school drop out age from 16 to 17 years old; support

This resolution lays out statistics on Georgia's graduation rates, the economic cost of dropping out, and research linking more years of schooling to better health, lower incarceration, and higher earnings. It cites Georgia's 2014 graduation rate, comparisons of prison versus school spending, and studies on the return on investment from higher graduation rates. Based on that reasoning, the House formally states its support for raising the minimum age at which a student can legally leave school from 16 to 17. The resolution directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies to the public and press. It does not amend any Georgia statute or set an effective date, since a resolution of this kind is a statement of position rather than a change to the compulsory education law.

• States the House of Representatives' support for raising Georgia's minimum school dropout age from 16 to 17 years old.
• Cites graduation rate data, economic research, and health and incarceration studies to justify the position.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press.
• Does not amend any Georgia statute or actually change the current dropout age, which remains a matter for separate legislation.

Georgia public school students who might otherwise leave school at 16, school districts responsible for compulsory attendance, and state policymakers who would need to pass separate legislation to actually change the dropout age law.

Because this is a resolution rather than a bill amending the Code, it carries no legal force and the dropout age stays at 16 unless a separate bill changes the law. It signals legislative interest that could lead to a future law change.

• The whereas clauses cite Georgia's 2014 high school graduation rate of 72.5 percent and comparisons to the national average.
• The whereas clauses cite economic research estimating dropouts cost the nation over $337 billion in lost lifetime wages from the Class of 2010 alone.
• The resolving clause states House support for increasing the minimum dropout age from 16 to 17.
• A further resolving clause directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press.

1. 2025-02-20House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-19House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-18House Hopper (House)

• Lydia Glaize (D, HD-067)Primary sponsor
• Mekyah McQueen (D, HD-061)
• Robert Dawson (D, HD-065)

• school dropout age
• education policy
• compulsory education
• graduation rates