A new bill is making its way through the General Assembly that will suspend the driver’s license of all high school-age teens who either drop out of school or are frequently absent.

House Bill 1463 will require that all schools notify the secretary of state via quarterly reports in regard to truancy, but provides exception for medical, economic or family hardship. Only those under the age of 18 or who continue to miss class will be affected.

Sycamore High School has a chronic truancy rate of 2.8 percent, which is higher than the state rate of 2.2 percent and DeKalb High School’s 1.3 percent, according to the Illinois Board of Education.

These statistics have encouraged many officials to support any type of legislation designed to keep kids in school.

“If this legislation is successful, it will be a benefit to the student, the family and the community as a whole,” said DeKalb School Board President Andy Small.

Mark Thurwanger, principal of Sycamore High School, agreed.

“Anything we can do to convince kids to stay in school is worth it,” he said.

The district’s high school dropout rate of 1.8 percent is less than the state average of 4 percent, but many officials still feel these numbers are far from acceptable.

“This bill will motivate students to stay in school and succeed. Students who graduate from high school make more money over their lifetime, have more opportunities, and generally do better in life. That is our primary goal,” said Rep. Robert Pritchard (R-Hinkley).

Additionally, congressmen support this bill because it is an effective, low-cost way to fight truancy and keep teens in school.

“The quarterly reports to the Secretary of State cost little money and manpower to process, and by reporting the results mid-semester, we give the schools time to counsel kids that are on the cusps of losing their license,” said State Rep. Dave Winters (R-Rockford), a primary sponsor of the bill.

Still, some officials believe there are some problems the legislation may exacerbate rather than repair.

“It won’t help truancy, and kids will drive anyway,” said State Rep. David R. Leitch (R-Peoria). “All this legislation guarantees is that they will become part of the criminal justice system. These kids have enough problems — what we should be doing is trying to engage parents in the education of their children.”

Despite that risk, school administrators feel confident the bill would improve attendance.

“I understand the risks involved, but I believe this will positively impact school attendance. Some kids only stay in school in order to get their license. This legislature will ensure they stay in school to keep their license,” said Gil Morrison, Regional Superintendent of DeKalb County.