Utah Discusses Cutting 12th Grade

Utah state Senator Chris Buttars says he believes he has discovered the cure for senioritis: cut 12th grade altogether. Pitched as a cost-cutting measure, his proposal to eliminate the final year of high school—or at the very least make it optional—has surprisingly gained some traction in the state, which is struggling with a $700 million budget shortfall. “The bottom line is saving taxpayer dollars while improving options for students,” said state Sen. Howard A. Stephenson, a Republican and co-chairman of the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee. “The more options we give to students to accelerate, the more beneficial it is to students and taxpayers.”