Does raising the state compulsory school attendance age achieve the intended outcomes?

Title:	Does raising the state compulsory school attendance age achieve the intended outcomes?
Description:	Many states have raised the compulsory school attendance age to 17 or 18, anticipating that a reduction in dropout, truancy, and discipline problems will more than compensate for the higher costs of educating students longer. This review examines the evidence on whether a higher compulsory school attendance age results in improved student outcomes. Against this background, this review addresses the following research questions: What changes have occurred in dropouts, truancy, and disciplinary actions in states that raised their compulsory school attendance age during 2002–11? What broader social outcomes have been identified in studies using national datasets? How have these states measured changes in these expected outcomes?
Online Availability:	Download, view and print the report as a pdf file. (298KB) Download, view and print the report summary as a pdf file. (79KB)
Cover Date:	December 2013
Web Release:	December 11, 2013
Print Release:	December 11, 2013
Publication #:	REL 2014005 General Ordering Information
Center/Program:	REL
Associated Centers:	NCEE
Authors:	Philip E. Mackey: Phil Mackey Associates Teresa G. Duncan: ICF International
Type of Product:	What's Happening
Keywords:	Academic Persistence Dropout Rates • Dropout prevention • dropout programs • dropout research
Questions:	For questions about the content of this What's Happening, please contact: Erin Pollard.