Tucked away in the State of the Union speech last week was President Barack Obama's suggestion that states pass laws requiring students to stay in school until age 18 or graduation. Sounds reasonable, doesn't it? After all, Americans know that for the country to stay strong, the next generation needs not only a high school education, but training past the 12th grade so that young people are smart, creative, competitive and ready to work. In Santa Fe, it's a common employer complaint that many recent high school graduates aren't ready to take on job tasks -- math, writing and general knowledge are below par.

In New Mexico, tough requirements already are on the books with the state compulsory attendance law (one that dates back to 1891, for whatever that's worth). It reads: "A school-aged person shall attend public school, private school, home school or a state institution until school-age person is at least 18 years of age unless that person has graduated from high school or received a general education development certificate." In practice, students leave high school at 16, many saying they will obtain their GED -- the earliest age students can take the high school equivalency test. Some fulfill that promise, and others fall through the cracks.

As we all know, despite the compulsory attendance law, the dropout rate in New Mexico remains one of the worst in the country at around 60 percent, depending on which count you believe. Whether because students lack the skills to succeed in high school or because -- and we think there are many students in this boat -- they believe high school is wasting their time, many are walking away from formal education. Given the many failures of anti-dropout programs, whether in New Mexico or in the country, it appears that passing stricter laws is only one approach, and perhaps not the best, to attack this problem. High school must become more relevant for students. We have successes to point to, including the health career pathways program at Capital High School. Mentoring programs at Monte del Sol Charter School and tough academics in advanced-placement courses at Santa Fe High also enrich students' days, as do the many extracurricular activities offered at all of our area high schools.

More must be done -- most likely with few increases in funding because of tight budgets. High school, for too many teens, is a place to hang out with friends and doze off during class. Academics can seem beside the point or are too difficult for students who were left behind back in fourth grade. Those students need more summer school courses, tutoring and support to catch up -- with funding cuts, the district's current summer offerings are severely limited. Other students need a way to advance more quickly through required courses. Some 300 to 400 students already are taking dual-credit classes at Santa Fe Community College through their partner schools, but not all students are aware of this opportunity. This is a promising way to keep students motivated -- several energetic Capital High students graduated last year with a high school degree and health certificates. The MASTER's Program charter school at the community college has a mission of helping high school students obtain college credit -- but it's just 140 students.

Vocational offerings, also because of budget cuts, are not expansive enough to fill the needs of students who are more technically or manually inclined. Rather than lose the opportunity to help students train for life, we need to restructure education so that students can get a job if necessary -- and a decent job -- upon graduation. Obama's idea to marry business needs and community college offerings is spot on, and should begin earlier, maybe even in middle school. When so many students are leaving high school, it's incumbent upon the community to ask why, without assuming it's because students don't cut it. Many can't do the work, it's true, and for them, we need additional remedial courses and help to remain in school. All students need more counseling and guidance to navigate requirements for graduation and college -- at private and charter schools, such assistance is a given.

For other would-be dropouts and even for those kids who love school but are impatient with the slow pace, let's continue shaking up the high school curriculum. We're heading in the right direction, but we need to move faster. Obama's words -- and our creativity and follow-through -- should be a launching pad to a whole new world of high school. But just legislating that kids must stay in school won't work.