The N.H. House of Representatives has approved a bill that would lower the legal high school dropout age from 18 to 16. House Bill 429, sponsored by Rep. James Parison (R-New Ipswich) passed by a vote of 210-134 on March 15.

The bill would reverse a law requiring students to stay in school until the age of 18, which went into effect less than two years ago. Gov. John Lynch recently announced that the law had resulted in a 44 percent reduction in the state’s annual dropout rate, which is currently below 1 percent.

Lynch, who led the bipartisan effort to raise the compulsory school attendance age two years ago, criticized the House vote in a public statement. He said high school dropouts have higher rates of teen pregnancy, substance abuse and incarceration and noted that there are few job opportunities for people who don’t earn high school diplomas. He questioned Republicans’ motivations for supporting the bill.

“The people of New Hampshire would be justified if they asked themselves, ‘Just what is our House of Representatives thinking?’” Lynch said. “The action by the House today puts our young people and the future of our economy in jeopardy.”

Under HB 429, students 16 or older must get permission from their parents to withdraw from school. Supporters say the bill is aimed at increasing parental rights. Parison has challenged Lynch to a public debate on the topic.

“This legislation does not change the so called ‘drop-out’ age. The bill simply returns to parents the prerogative to participate in an education decision,” Parison said in a release. 

The bill still must be approved by the state Senate and signed by Lynch.