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Brizard: Raising Dropout Age To 18 Is A 'Wonderful Idea'

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Gov. Pat Quinn says 17 is too soon to drop out of school, and he wants to raise the drop out age to 18.

WBBM Newsradio's John Cody reports there is some support for the idea.

Chicago Public Schools chief executive officer Jean-Claude Brizard thinks raising the dropout age to 18 is a "wonderful idea."

But he says the age cannot be raised in a vacuum.

"A lot more in terms of support has to be coupled with that, so raising the age is a good start, but what comes with that in terms of academic and psychological support to make sure kids sustain and actually graduate out of high school?" Brizard said.

He says the support for a higher dropout age in Illinois, will require more money from the state if the plan is to be effective.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's John Cody reports

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