The state of Utah is considering a new proposal that would see the 12th grade become optional for students if they have enough credits to graduate early.

Utah state Sen. Chris Buttars (R-West Jordan) raised some ire recently in his state by suggesting that the 12th grade be totally eliminated in the state in an effort to help reduce its $700 million dollar budget deficit.  This idea met with a lot of opposition, and Sen. Buttars has now changed his approach to that of making the 12th grade optional according to The Salt Lake City Tribune.

Currently the state does have a policy in place that allows students to graduate early if they have enough credits, but only approximately 200 students a year take advantage of it.  The new plan would offer some form of incentive to students (what exactly those incentives would be has not been listed anywhere that I can find) so that more of them would take advantage of the option.  Estimates say this could save the state $60 million per year.

Sen. Buttars reasoning is not only will this plan save the state money, but it makes sense as many students get no benefit from their senior year and choose to treat it as a time to goof off.

While I certainly think totally eliminating the year would have been a bad idea, early graduation due to having enough credits makes plenty of sense.  I had enough credits at winter break of my senior year to graduate, but my school did not offer the option.  When I missed the entire fourth quarter of my senior year due to the worst recorded case of Mono in my county’s history at the time (I’m not kidding), the school tried to hold me back a year despite my having enough credits.  After threats of lawsuits, the school finally agreed to allow me to graduate with my class.

So the idea of schools allowing graduation when you have enough credits?  I’m all for it!  Giving them incentives … I still will have to hear what those are, but if they’re reasonable, and don’t eat away at the $60 million dollar savings, why not?