JEFFERSON CITY — Education is vital to the continued success of our great state. As your state senator, I was fortunate this session to be involved in helping draft legislation that will allow Missouri youth to achieve their full potential.

Senate Bill 381 would create the Education Innovation Campus Fund. This legislation works by starting participating high school freshmen in a program that will mix high school, community college and four-year university, along with on-the-job internships to create a six-year path to a college degree. The program will save students both money and time, all while preparing them for the rigors of the modern working world.

The University of Central Missouri (UCM), Metropolitan Community College, Lee’s Summit School District and several local corporations have been working to build this idea. Other organizations that wish to be involved in the program can include cities, business communities, local economic development departments, and specific businesses. UCM President Dr. Chuck Ambrose was instrumental in helping craft this legislation and create the program from the ground up.

The passage of SB 381 will make it easier to duplicate and implement the Education Innovation Campus in any area of the state. The students enrolled in this program will graduate in a shorter amount of time and with less cost or debt than those who take a traditional educational tract.

We want to prepare our students for the challenges of the working world, and through SB 381, we are able to achieve that goal. As a parent, I am proud to have been able to work on legislation that will have such an impact on our children’s future.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns at any time. We look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions and trying to answer any questions you may have. You can reach us by phone at 573-751-1464, or e-mail at will.kraus@senate.mo.gov.