A bill working its way through the New Mexico legislature would require high school students apply for college, join the military or commit to a specific job or internship in order to graduate
It would be the first time any state enacted such rules.
The bipartisan bill also requires parents and a guidance counselor to approve of a student’s post-high-school plans.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports the bill has cleared its first legislative hearing. It goes on to the education committee.
One of the bill’s sponsors, Republican Representative Nate Gentry, said this would only extend current graduation requirements that ask students to have a written plan for life after high school. But critics of the bill worry that there aren’t enough guidance counselors to help students and that these new requirements would erode personal freedom.
Similar rules are in place in Chicago and San Marcos, Texas.
