House passes adult high school bill

Missouri's Capitol in Jefferson City is shown during the early morning hours.
Missouri's Capitol in Jefferson City is shown during the early morning hours.

Adult Missourians without a high school diploma may have a new opportunity to earn one.

House Bill 680, a new piece of legislation sponsored by state Rep. Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, calls for the construction of four adult high schools around the state.

Fitzwater said the bill targets Missourians over age 21.

"Basically, what we have is 500,000 adults who do not have a high school diploma," he said. "A GED just doesn't cut it for employers. What we want to do is provide a high school diploma, which looks so much better on a resume."

Fitzwater said the bill is based on a similar Indiana program that already provides diplomas to thousands every year.

"These degrees also increase an individual's earning potential," he said. "Of those 500,000 without a degree, 350,000 are on assistance programs. These high schools provide a way for people to move through those programs."

The bill passed the Missouri House with bipartisan support, showing the need for this program, Fitzwater said.

"It think it's pretty clear why," he said. "This is an issue impacting every district in the state. The Missouri Chamber's 2030 Plan calls for workforce development. I think that is something Missouri needs to be a leader in, and we are taking a common sense approach to it."

Fitzwater said his bill requires the four adult high schools to partner with local businesses to offer skills certification training based on local demand.

"There is a need for people," he said. "It's just that (businesses) are lacking candidates with training."

The bill provides accommodations for working adults and does not require those with some high school credits to re-earn those credits. Highlights from the bill include:

A requirement to offer on-site child care for students.

The awarded diploma be indistinguishable from a regular high school diploma. It will not feature differentiating marks, titles or other symbols.

Course work will be completed at the students' pace. Students will not be required to satisfy any specific number of class minutes, and classes will be available to students online as may be appropriate.

Preference in admission is given to students who receive any local, state or federal assistance in which a person or family is required not to exceed a certain income level in order to qualify for the assistance.

The bill calls for the four schools to be built in economically different areas of the state, Fitzwater said, and Callaway County is a possible location.

"We are wanting to get schools in an urban, a suburban and a rural area of the state," he said. "Boone County is one we are looking at, but the bill also allows the school to go in Callaway, because they are (contiguous)."

Currently, the prospect of the bill passing the Senate and being signed by Gov. Eric Greitens looks good, Fitzwater said.

"I haven't heard of any (potential obstacles)," he said. "A Springfield senator is carrying the bill through the Senate. He is very well thought of and loves the idea. I have talked to Sen. (Jeanie) Riddle, and she is going to be a great help there as well."

Fitzwater said he will actively champion his bill to help its passage.

"The next couple weeks, I will be working very hard on this," he said. "This is a priority issue for us."