Yeah, that jumped off the page at me too and I don't consider it a good sign...I don't care what they say. But, once they're 16, you don't have any legal say-so about whether they stay in high school or not. True, you can exert other pressure/influence to "guide" their thinking( i.e., "Here's a big cardboard box...there's a highway overpass...have a nice life."), but when it comes down to it, you can't stop them from leaving. Maybe that influence would work, but you'd be surprised how short-sighted these kids are today. And the parents can't get 100% of the blame unless they live on some remote desert island with no friggin' TV.
Heck, my daughter had to sign a form "allowing" her college grades to be sent home to her parents !!! Some wild-eyed liberal has decided parents don't have the "right" to see the grades unless the kid "authorizes" it.
Things have just gotten out of control. Nothing surprises me anymore.