Stay in school or lose license

Keeping students in school until high school graduation should be a top priority for South Carolina. Educators say it is. Lawmakers say it is. But putting teeth into that claim is missing.

In a state that lags behind many others in education achievement, South Carolina has a dropout rate higher than is acceptable. In a modern economy where information and education are the keys to success, those without a high school diploma find themselves on the outside looking in.

There must be immediate incentives for young people to remain in high school beyond the distant view of future careers. Rep. Tom Young Jr. of Aiken thinks he has a way to entice teens to get their diplomas or pay a steep price. Rep. Young is interested in pursuing legislation that would tie a teenager's driver's license to being enrolled in school. If a student drops out, he or she loses the driver's license until age 18.

Such a piece of legislation might not eliminate the State's dropout problem, but it keeps some people in school who otherwise would leave, the individuals and the State will both be winners. South Carolina must make a dent in its dropout rate. In order to do so, the State has to let the students understand how important this issue is and how painful it will be if students leave school before graduating.