Lawmaker wants to keep high school graduates from leaving the state
High school students going into high-demand fields could get automatic admission to the state university of their choice, under a measure introduced in the Illinois Senate. Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, says nearly 20,000 Illinois high school graduates go out of state for college -- a trend, he says, that needs to be stopped.
“We are losing brainpower and we are losing it fast. If we want to be serious about jobs in this state, we have to be serious about retaining our best and our brightest assets.” --Sen. Chapin Rose
Students would have to promise to major in a certain subject -- like mathematics, engineering, or science.
To qualify, they also would have to score at least a 28 on their ACT and graduate from high school with at least a 3.5 Grade Point Average (GPA).
Rose is keeping the plan on hold for now, though.
Lawmakers say they have several concerns, like knowing how many students would qualify ... and if state universities would be able to support them.
Illinois Public Radio's Chris Slaby contributed to this report.