The comments so far seem to be analyzing the rule as it pertains to themselves (I'm smart and don't need HS to be successful!). We need to take a step back and

The comments so far seem to be analyzing the rule as it pertains to themselves (I'm smart and don't need HS to be successful!). We need to take a step back and look at the larger demographic set. My wife and I have been advocating this for several years now, but graduation would not be the only option. The emphasis here is on choice. Once they turn 16 (the magical arbitrary number) they have a choice: stay, test out, go get your AA at a comm college, go to a trade school, peace corps, military, or apprentice somewhere. Needless to say the entrenched educators we've talked to about this hate it, but I'm still behind it.