The Rapid City school district says hands-on learning will help attract and retain about 400 students who will be affected by a law starting July 1, 2009, that will require them to stay in school until they graduate or turn 18.

The law, which supporters say will help curb truancy and reduce juvenile crime, has been a hot topic since it was passed last year. Home-schooling advocates say it infringes on family choices for what is best for their children. Other opponents say it will add to crowding in schools and cause disruptions for students and teachers.

Current state law requires school attendance for children ages 6 to 16. State Rep. Gordon Howie, R-Rapid City, who won a Senate seat in the recent general election, has said he may offer a proposal to retain the current rules.

However, some local school officials have said they support the new law, and will be ready when it takes effect next school year.

Rapid City Superintendent Peter Wharton said he supports the change and is confident that programs like Partnership Rapid City, which offers interested students internships in the community, will provide at-risk students the connection between school and work.

"It's a different approach from just staying within the confines of the classroom," he said. "We feel what this is about is lifelong learning."

The district also will work closely with local law enforcement, courts, social services and mental health services to help students transition into the new law.

Liz Hamburg, the business liaison and apprenticeship coordinator for Partnership Rapid City, said the new law was one of the reasons the district expanded those programs, hiring additional internship coordinators for the high schools.

The program has grown by word-of-mouth, she said.

"This fall both coordinators have kids following them down the hall," she said.

Word-of-mouth also will be the way to get to students who have already dropped out and need to come back to school, she said.

"We can target those kids," she said. "Our hope is that they will tie together being in the world and getting an education - one plays into the other. The goal is to help get them an internship and discover what aptitude and talent and interest they have, and then help them take classes that will develop who they are and what they want to be."

The internships, which are worth half a credit, also are described in course catalogues for Jefferson, Central and Stevens high schools. For internships, students must work 35 hours a semester.

Hamburg said a new apprenticeship pilot program starts next semester. Participating students will essentially be hired part-time for a company, work 80 hours a semester, and receive training in the hopes of continuing in the field or at the company following graduation.

"So many students are finding out how fun this is," Hamburg said. "We see it just exploding."

Julie Ward, community partnership facilitator for the district, agreed with Hamburg. She said about 500 students have participated in the internship program so far.

"Our perspective is giving kids a vision for staying in school," she said. "We need to break the myth that the only way a kid can be successful is if they go to a four-year college. We know some trade people are making more than people with a four-year college degree."

Wade Pogany of the South Dakota Department of Education said Rapid City should be commended for its plan. He said the 18 states with the age-18 attendance requirement also offer career and technical education beyond the classroom for their students at risk of dropping out.

It's too early to know what is going to work in South Dakota, he said. Pogany reported on the issue Monday to the state Board of Education.

"It's hard to quantify the impact yet and we will know more after the next school year, but we know more students will stay in school, more will continue their education and more will graduate," he said. "That's why this law is so important."

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com.