(1) As a result of continuing changes in the economy and therefore the types of jobs available in today's economic climate, education and knowledge skills, including a high school diploma or its equivalent as a minimum educational attainment, are becoming more and more critical to both short-term and long-term prospects for economic independence through employment.

(2) A large percentage of AFDC recipients drop out of secondary school and fail to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to twenty-one years of age. These include many teenage parents who receive cash assistance through the AFDC program.

(3) Present welfare policy fails to provide any incentive to welfare families to keep their children in school until they receive a high school diploma. In fact, existing policy provides continuing financial support for high school dropouts with no responsibilities for educational attainment by AFDC recipients.