A package of legislation approved by the Senate Education Committee Wednesday would allow high school underclassmen to take college courses, as juniors and seniors are currently allowed, as well as eliminate the course prerequisites and testing requirements often in place.
Senate Bills 622, 623, 709 and 710 would allow students to take two courses per year for their first three years, and four courses during their senior year of high school.
The measures passed on party-line votes, with Democrats objecting over the provisions allowing home-schooled and private school students to also enroll in the college courses while having a portion of the tuition paid for by the local school district.