---
title: HR 275. State of Georgia; increase minimum school drop out age from 16 to 17 years old; support
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr275
cite_as: HR 275, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr275
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr275.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr275/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70430
date: 2025-02-20
status: introduced
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 129
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr275.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 275
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2025-02-18
last_action: House Second Readers
sponsors:
  - Lydia Glaize
  - Mekyah McQueen
  - Robert Dawson
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR275/2025
upstream_id: 1974374
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - school dropout age
  - public education
  - compulsory education
  - student outcomes
---

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

## Text

House Resolution 275
By: Representatives Glaize of the 67th, McQueen of the 61st, and Dawson of the 65th
A RESOLUTION
Supporting an increase in the minimum school drop out age from 16 to 17 years old in the
State of Georgia; and for other purposes.
WHEREAS, in 2014, the State of Georgia had a high school graduation rate of 72.5 percent,
significantly lower than the national average of 81 percent in 2013, and states with higher
graduation rates have historically maintained a higher compulsory education age; and
WHEREAS, a previous Atlanta Regional Commission study projected that by 2020, 60
percent of jobs in Georgia would require post-secondary education, yet only 38 percent of
high school sophomores at the time were expected to pursue a degree or certificate; and
WHEREAS, the economic impact of high school dropouts is substantial, with dropouts from
the Class of 2010 alone estimated to cost the nation over $337 billion in lost wages over their
lifetimes; and
WHEREAS, the Alliance for Excellent Education found that over the course of their
lifetimes, high school dropouts earn about $260,000 less on average than graduates, with
additional research in 2006 revealing that 74 percent of dropouts later regret their decision
as adults; and
WHEREAS, data published by the Journal of Public Economics indicates that individuals
with additional years of schooling report better health, lower rates of depression, and greater
life satisfaction; and
WHEREAS, a report from the National Education Association showed that nearly 71 percent
of incarcerated individuals lacked a high school diploma and that an additional year of
schooling reduces arrests by 11 to 18 percent; and
WHEREAS, a 2021 analysis from CNN Money found that Georgia spends approximately
$20,000 per year per inmate but only about $10,000 per student; and
WHEREAS, research consistently demonstrates that states with a higher school-leaving age
have better educational outcomes, higher employment rates, and greater economic stability,
with a 2012 article from The New York Times estimating that for every dollar invested in
increasing graduation rates, there is a return of $1.45 to $3.55; and
WHEREAS, increasing the minimum dropout age to 17 will better prepare Georgia's
workforce, strengthen the state's economy, and provide students with the opportunities
necessary for long-term success.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body support the increase of the minimum school dropout age in the
State of Georgia from 16 to 17 years old.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the
public and the press.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House resolution expresses support for raising the state's minimum school dropout age from 16 to 17, though it does not itself change the law.

### Plain-language summary

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.

### What it does

- 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.

### Who it affects

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.

### Why it matters

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.

### Key provisions

- 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.

## Status

- Status: Introduced (2025-02-18)
- Last action: House Second Readers (2025-02-20)
- Sponsors: Lydia Glaize, Mekyah McQueen, Robert Dawson
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70430

> The history, votes, and amendments (129 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr275.md?full=1