No Pass, No Drive Laws

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Because of truancy and poor grades, Clynt Goins' driver's license was suspended.

Clynt, 17, is a senior at McMim County High School in Athens, Tennessee. The legislation is generally called no-pass, no-drive.

Starting in West Virginia in 1988, twenty-seven states have implemented policies linking behavior, school attendance and academic performance to such consequences, despite the fact that there is no strong research evidence.

Many educators believe that more energy should be spent on making schools more engaging so that kids will want to attend… that work is needed to deal with the barriers to attendance like poverty, which keep kids from performing well.

According to Education Week, parents don't help by home schooling their kids when they're suspended, rather than motivating them to change behaviors.

Goins gives credit to Tennessee's driver's-license law for putting him on track to graduate on time; but unfortunately there are few published examples like Clynt.

The no-pass, no-drive policies are popular but unproven. Keeping kids in school and learning seems to require more thought.

Reported By Dr. Marciene Mattleman, KYW Newsradio