Legislators in New Mexico are considering bills that are designed to keep children in school. The bills would use a powerful punishment for truants and those who drop out.
The Senate Education committee passed a bill that is designed to keep students in school or have them risk losing their driving privileges. The bill, sponsored by Senator Craig Brandt, is meant to discourage truancy and decrease dropout rates.
Sen. Brandt discusses the importance of driving to students and how the bill will create an incentive for them to attend their classes if their driving privileges are at risk.
Under the bill, students with ten or more unexcused absences would be at risk for losing their driver’s license. Senator Brandt says he hopes the bill can be used as a tool to identify at-risk students and get them the help they need to continue their education.
Sen. Brandt explains that the goal is not to punish students for truancy but rather keep them in school. He says similar policies in other states have been successful.
One of the desired outcomes of the bill is to prevent unnecessary dropouts and only permit students to withdraw from school due to extreme circumstances. A companion bill has been introduced in the House.