ATLANTA – Last week Representative Jan Jones (R-Milton) introduced House Bill 149 (HB 149). This legislation will allow 11th and 12th grade public school students to transfer to a college or technical school to complete high school while receiving credit towards a higher degree.
HB 149, the “Move On When Ready” Act, would give public school students and their families more options to fit their individual educational needs. Patterned after a program enacted over a decade ago in Minnesota, the legislation assures that current state funding for secondary education follows the student without siphoning off HOPE funding prior to high school graduation.
“Nothing interests me more as a legislator than giving students and their families more and better educational options to fit their needs. This is a case in which more is definitely better,” said Rep. Jones.
“We need to transform public education so we can prepare Georgia students to thrive and compete in the 21st century global economy. A one size fits all system no longer fits anyone, students or teachers,” she continued.
The legislation is the result of Rep. Jones’ service on numerous education boards, including the “Hard Choices, Hard Times” commission created by Governor Sonny Perdue in 2008 and headed by former University of Georgia President Charles Knapp. The commission recommended giving more options to public school students, including encouraging high school students to move on to higher education institutions when they are ready.
Minnesota’s results show that this option benefits both the highest achieving students as well as those students at risk of dropping out. When given the option to attended community college or technical school while working to complete their high school degree, the graduation rate increased among students at risk of dropping out. The bill would allow students to attend any accredited public or private college that accepts them and agrees to the state funding as full payment.
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