Wrangell Sentinel -

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – A proposal requiring that most students stay in school until they turn 18 passed the Senate Wednesday.

The bill by Sen. Bettye Davis, D-Anchorage, would require Alaska children to attend school from ages 6 to 18. Current law requires attendance from ages 7 to 16.

Davis said her goal is to ensure that learning starts early and that parents have something to fall back on should their kids want to drop out before graduating.

“The Alaska compulsory school age has not changed since territorial days,” Davis said in a floor speech. “SB9 allows parents to tell their ch...