Utah State Senator Proposes Making 12th Grade Optional

By: Spencer Magloff
Topics: Domestic Issues

(CBS/iStockphoto)

Reductions in education spending traditionally take the form of cutting teachers, administration or salaries. But with Utah's $700 million deficit lingering over lawmaker's heads, a new proposal has recently attracted as much curiosity as disdain: Make 12th grade optional.

State Sen. Chris Buttars from the Salt Lake City suburbs told the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee earlier this month that many students squander away their senior year, making it an unnecessary expense and another one to alleviate the large budget shortfall. He said eliminating 12th grade altogether would have saved $102 million.

"You're spending a whole lot of money for a whole bunch of kids who aren't getting anything out of that grade," he said. "It comes down to the best use of money."

Buttars later scaled back his proposal to just give students the option of skipping 12th grade if they finish their requirements in three years, according to The Salt Lake Tribute. That proposal could reportedly save around $60 million.

It's unclear how many students would opt for early gradation if given the option.

"What I'm trying to do is find that money for the $700 million ongoing shortfall in ongoing money, and at the same time try to keep as many dollars as possible in the program," Buttars said last week at an education funding subcommittee hearing, reports station KSL-TV in Salt Lake City. "This does that. Now, to what extent we don't know because it's their option."

The proposal has attracted national attention and has many opponents, including many students and teachers who see senior year as critical.

J.D. Williams, student body president at West Jordan High School in Utah, told the Los Angeles Times that he's against the plan.

"I need this year," Williams said. "My parents are against it... All the teachers at the school are against it. I'm against it."

"It is very shortsighted," John Balden, president of the Utah chapter of the American Federation of Teachers, told ABC News. "Students don't just play in 12th grade. They really do study. In higher education we find an awful lot of students unprepared for college. Twelfth grade is really a necessary grade."

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by Willpie13 January 13, 2011 11:00 AM EST: I think that this is a good idea. High school can be mentally and physically damaging to children, and making a year of it optional would increase the sense of freedom, and decrease the stress.; Reply to this comment


by ppogirl February 22, 2010 7:57 PM EST: Does no one notice that the author has incorrectly spelled graduation? I thought we were preparing our children for graduation, not gradation.

In any event, I don't know what all the hoopla is about. Many college students complete their degree in 3 years. It financially makes sense, they are not being cheated out of education, just earning their credits in 3 years not 4. I think the opponents of this need this food for thought: If your child could complete his bachelor's degree in 3 years thus saving you the 4th year tuition ... would you say no????; Reply to this comment


by JBhowick February 17, 2010 1:39 PM EST: The problem with any decision like this is that the argument is self-sustaining. "...Students squander away their senior year..." so let's just cut the senior year. Then they'll squander away their 11th year, so we'll cut it as unnecessary, and so on. I don't know whether to vilify Buttars for coming up with a remarkably bad idea, or give him an award for cleverly setting Utah up to save more money by cutting the 11th grade next year.; Reply to this comment


by CBSisCommunist5 February 17, 2010 1:37 AM EST: With the way our school system is failing... Does missing 1 year really make a difference ?; Reply to this comment


by jericolover February 16, 2010 5:11 PM EST: Maybe if I go back to bed and wake up all over again I might find myself in a sane world. Not...State Sen. Chris Buttars and others like him will still be here. ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!!!! We're trying to better education not destroy it. As a mother who saw 2 sons graduate from high school and go on to college, I can tell you that 12th grade is extremely important in preparation for college. I think it might be a good idea if we send some of our politicians back to 12th grade where they belong.; Reply to this comment


by dancingmoon February 16, 2010 4:59 PM EST: That makes absolutely no sense at all.

11th grade then becomes the final year of high school and students would then "squander" away the 11th grade.; Reply to this comment

by markj2 February 16, 2010 4:17 PM EST

I don't know who this clown is, but you can probably bet that the next time he's up for re-election he will be voted out of office and replaced with someone with some common sense. How about they cut their salaries to help make up the shortfall facing Utah, then stop spending money they don't have. I guess he felt that his 12th grade year was a waste of time and money, so why not illiminate it state wide. Please is there anybody around with just one ounce of common sense, please stand up and make your presence known.

Reply to this comment


by Willpie13 January 13, 2011 11:05 AM EST: By "illiminate," did you mean "illuminate?" I didn't know that he wanted to shine light on it, unless you meant eliminate....
I'm just showing my one ounce of common sense and saying that it is pretty hard to "illiminate" something, especially since that word probably doesn't exist.
That ounce of commom sense that you typed about could also be called blindness by some people.

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