Governor: Revoke driver's license of absent students

High school students who skip too much school would lose their driver's licenses under a plan announced Tuesday by Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Pawlenty said that under his plan any students who are absent more than 20 percent of the time could also be held back in their grade.

"I have no hesitation linking expectations around school attendance and the privilege of driving," Pawlenty said. "We need to make sure we have the horse before the cart."

He also said that he would end the practice of "social promotion," which is when students advance to the next grade even though their academic skills are below par.

Speaking at a driver's licensing station, Pawlenty said his proposals were part of an overall push to hold students more accountable for their education.

"Students need to understand the importance of education and that there are consequences if they don't take it seriously," Pawlenty said in a statement. "Chronic absenteeism is one step away from crime and we need to do everything we can to stop it."

Pawlenty's plan would need legislative approval. One DFL lawmaker wasted no time in criticizing the plan.

Declaring it "government by gimmick" Rep. Mindy Greiling of Roseville said the Legislature had considered and rejected similar proposals in the past.

"We've had bills in the Legislature that ran into a buzz saw of logistics," said Greiling, the ranking DFLer on the Education Finance Committee.

One issue is that students can legally drop out of school at age 16 in Minnesota. Pawlenty said those students would need a special waiver to get driver's licenses.

Pawlenty also called for mandatory summer school for students that fail a test of their basic skills.

In addition, Pawlenty encouraged school boards to develop contracts between parents and their children that stipulate parental obligations for their children's education, along with expectations for student behavior. Participation in the program would be part of the state's report cards on the schools.

"This is common sense: students who do not regularly attend school do not learn and do not succeed academically," Pawlenty said in his statement. "We want to make sure parents and students know it is their responsibility - and to their advantage - to be a full participant in education. And if they're not fully involved, we want to make sure there are consequences."

Tuesday's announcement was the third in Pawlenty's new education agenda, which is dubbed "Excellence and Accountability."

Previously, Pawlenty advocated requiring students to read before the end of the first grade. He also presented a plan to create "super teachers" that would be paid up to $100,000 a year in exchange for surrendering some traditional job security.

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3 posted on 10/14/2003 8:19:34 PM PDT by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)

A clear case of age discrimination. Capricious and arbitrary. A waste of taxpayer money. A frontal attack on the life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness for these youngsters. An attack on the weak and needy, hmmm, what else, no that's it for now.

4 posted on 10/14/2003 8:24:14 PM PDT by JerseyHighlander (Utinam logica falsa tuam philosophiam totam suffodiant!)

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