Early high school graduation good for business

Today, the Senate Education Committee passed SB 69, a bill to allow high school juniors to graduate from high school early and continue on to college after meeting high academic standards. The Chamber supports this legislation for two reasons. First we believe that the legislation has the potential of making high school a more successful experience for more Kentucky students, encouraging them to pursue postsecondary education. Secondly, we see this alternative for students as a way to expand the pool of quality employees at a faster pace — much needed in a changing global economy. The bill echoes many of the innovative ideas in the national report supported by the Chamber, Tough Choices or Tough Times by the bipartisan New Commission of the Skills of the American Workforce. While this bill is not a mirror image of Tough Choices strategies, it is very much in keeping with its focus of moving students through the system at a quicker pace, keeping them interested, but making them work harder in the process. The bill will now move to the Senate floor for a vote.