Opelika schools approve age policy

The Opelika City Schools board of education voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a policy that requires students to stay in school until they are 17 years old.

The requirement comes from a law that was passed by the State Legislature that requires students to be enrolled in school from ages 7 to 17.

“All that we’re doing is adding that they must be 17 before they can drop out,” Opelika Superintendent Mark Neighbors said at the meeting.

Previously, students could drop out at 16.

Stan Cox, principal of Opelika High School, who was also at the meeting, said students now have to conduct an exit interview with their parents or guardians, the principal and superintendent before dropping out.