Texas is not the only state in which the action is becoming rather heated:

In Utah, a plan to cut 12th grade

The proposal by state Sen. Chris Buttars would chip away at Utah’s $700-million shortfall. He’s since offered a toned-down version: Just make senior year optional.

[…]

The sudden buzz over the relative value of senior year stems from a recent proposal by state Sen. Chris Buttars that Utah make a dent in its budget gap by eliminating the 12th grade.

The notion quickly gained some traction among supporters who agreed with the Republican’s assessment that many seniors frittered away their final year of high school, but faced vehement opposition from other quarters, […]

Buttars has since toned down the idea, suggesting instead that senior year become optional for students who complete their required credits early. He estimated the move could save up to $60 million, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.

[…]

So, you might say, tough economic times require tough decisions, or something like that. Yeah, but you have to know something about the state Senator Chris Buttars:

During the 2006 General Session of the 56th Utah State Legislature Buttars sponsored S.B. 96, an Intelligent Design Bill. The bill would allow instructors to teach students that evolution is a controversial theory and counter it with the pseudoscience of Creationism, using the term “Divine Design.”[4] The New York Times called the bill “Anti-Darwin” and critics have pointed to Buttars’ words “Divine Design” as evidence for its religious undertow. […]

In a January 2009 interview with openly gay documentary filmmaker Reed Cowan, for the documentary 8: The Mormon Proposition, Buttars said that gays and lesbians were “the greatest threat to America going down,” comparing members of the LGBT community to radical Muslims. “I believe they will destroy the foundation of the American society,” he said.[17] […]

He’s also made some notedly racists remarks.

Public Education: it’s on the chopping block if the RR can’t remold it into what they want.