HR 275: State of Georgia; increase minimum school drop out age from 16 to 17 years old; support

This is a House resolution, not a bill that changes Georgia law on its own. It lays out a series of findings about high school dropout rates, graduation statistics, and economic and health research, arguing that keeping students in school longer produces better outcomes for individuals and the state. Based on those findings, the resolution states that the members of the Georgia House of Representatives support raising the minimum age at which a student can legally drop out of school from 16 to 17. It directs the Clerk of the House to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and the press. Because it is a resolution rather than a bill amending the Official Code of Georgia, it does not itself require any state agency or school to change the current dropout age.

• States that the House of Representatives supports raising Georgia's minimum school dropout age from 16 to 17 years old.
• Cites statistics on graduation rates, lifetime earnings, health outcomes, and incarceration rates to justify the position.
• Directs the Clerk of the House to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and the press.
• Does not amend the Official Code of Georgia or set any binding new dropout age; it is a statement of support, not a change in law.

The resolution most directly concerns Georgia public school students who might otherwise leave school at 16, along with school districts and the state's future workforce. It does not immediately bind the Department of Education or local schools since it creates no legal requirement.

Because this is a resolution rather than a law, nothing changes immediately for students or schools. Its significance is as a signal of legislative support that could pave the way for a future bill actually raising the compulsory school age from 16 to 17.

• The whereas clauses cite Georgia's 2014 graduation rate of 72.5 percent and national comparisons to support raising the dropout age.
• The resolved clause states that House members support increasing the minimum dropout age from 16 to 17 years old.
• A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press.
• The resolution contains no enacting language amending the Official Code of Georgia and sets no effective date for a legal change.

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
• public education
• compulsory education
• student outcomes