SPRINGFIELD, Ill. • Gov. Pat Quinn wants to raise the minimum high school dropout age in Illinois to 18 years old. Quinn's announcement comes in response to President Barack Obama's call to combat the nation's growing student dropout rate.

During his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, Obama called on states to keep students in school longer, and to propose legislation prohibiting anyone under the age of 18 from dropping out of school.

Quinn will propose raising the minimum high school dropout age to 18 in his State of the State address next week.

Currently, Illinois' minimum dropout age is 17. There are 28 other states, including Missouri that allow students to drop out of school before they turn 18.

"The best way to ensure that our children have the chance to achieve and succeed is to make sure they stay in school long enough to earn their diploma," Quinn said in a written statement.

Missouri's current minimum dropout age is 17 years old.