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Schools

Senate Bill Would Reward High School Students Graduating Early

State Sen. Scott Rupp has proposed a bill that would set up an early graduation scholarship program but local school officials question its impact.

A local state senator has an idea about rewarding high school students who get  graduate early.

State Sen. Scott Rupp, R-2nd District, is sponsoring a bill in the Missouri Senate that would create an “Early High School Graduation Scholarship Program.”  The bill has been referred to the Senate Education Committee.

The program would provide two different types of scholarships to students who graduate early from public high schools in Missouri.

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But local school administrators say it may become more difficult for high school students to graduate early. The trend these days points more toward increasing credits needed for graduation.

The proposed bill applies to students who graduate from high school in 36 months or 41 months and who meet other requirements.

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Just how much of a scholarship a student would receive varies depending on the school district. The scholarship money will be determined based on a formula. The program would be implemented and administered by the Missouri Department of Higher Education.

The idea is to empower students to achieve more and move on to college, particularly if they have met high school graduation requirements, he said

The bill states that a student’s school district will be offered a grant in an amount equal to ten percent of the district's state aid payments, divided by the district's weighted average daily attendance for the year immediately preceding the student's graduation.

Rupp said one problem with the bill is that scholarship amounts may vary – a student from a smaller school district might receive a lesser scholarship than a student from a larger school district.

Students can use a scholarship award for tuition, mandatory fees, or both, if attending a public or private institution of higher education in Missouri.

Scholarship funds can also be used by students in a dual credit or dual enrollment program with a college or university to pay any fees.

Rupp said the program may help schools with rising costs by offering an incentive for students to graduate early.

But the bill also may be bucking another trend to add rigor to graduation requirements.

Last November, for example, the St. Charles School District Board of Education voted to raise minimum requirements for graduation to 28 credits from 26. The new requirement will start with next year’s freshman class. The state requires at least 24 credits to graduate from high school.

Adding two more credits would look better on college transcripts, let students study other subjects but might make harder for them to graduate early or make up credits, according to a district graduation requirements committee.  The committee recommended the increase in credits to the board.

Other school district officials also questioned Rupp’s bill. Matt Deichmann, director of community relations at the Wentzville School District, said district officials weren’t aware of the bill’s details. 

But Deichmann and other officials said the trend is toward increasing requirements.

“I’m not sure what he’s (Rupp) trying to get at,” said Bernard DuBray, superintendent of the Fort Zumwalt School District.

From a practical standpoint, few students now can graduate as early as 36 months, he said. On rare occasions, a student at 41 months can petition the Board of Education to graduate early, he said. 

“We may get one student,” he said.

Travis Bracht, director of student learning at the Francis Howell School District, said few students would qualify for early graduation. Only one student he knows of has graduated after three years since he’s been on the job in the last five years.  And many may not want to go anyway.

“Kids like the social aspect of high school, and some play high school sports,” Bracht said. “Few want to leave high school early.”

Even if the bill were enacted, Bracht said he didn’t think it would generate much interest or momentum toward early graduation.

DuBray said, however, that providing funding to help eligible students with college costs isn’t a bad idea.

 “I think anything that will assist students is a good thing,” he said.

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