Legislation in the Illinois General Assembly would allow high school agriculture course count toward the college admission process. | Stock Photo
Legislation in the Illinois General Assembly would allow high school agriculture course count toward the college admission process. | Stock Photo
State Sen. Doris Turner's (D-Carlinville) push to make agricultural science classes count toward state university admissions requirements has cleared one hurdle with a unanimous vote in the Illinois Senate.
Turner said the goal of Senate Bill 1624 is to spotlight the importance of studying agriculture while giving students credit toward their college admission requirements for taking part in such courses.
"My goal is to encourage students to feel confident and passionate about their career choices, especially when choosing a field that has such a substantial and diverse impact," Turner said in an April 27 Facebook post.
As the law currently stands, students must complete a minimum of 15 credits of high school coursework in English, social students, mathematics, (laboratory) sciences, and electives such as foreign language, music, vocational education, or art to be accepted into a state university according to a release on Turner's Senate website.
Some colleges accept agricultural science as credit for a science class toward acceptance to their school, but not all higher education establishments do. If passed, the law would add agricultural science to the list of acceptable courses towards admission.
The bill heads to the Illinois House of Representatives.
Alerts Sign-up