Governor wants to reward early high school graduates

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels believes the state should provide financial rewards for students who graduate early from high school.

Daniels plans to ask the General Assembly to allow students who choose to graduate early to use much of the money the state would save to pay for higher education, The Times of Munster reported.

The Indiana Department of Education says the state spends an average of $5,866 per student per year. The newspaper reported officials still need to determine how students could claim the money and whether it could be spent only at Indiana colleges.

Outgoing House Speaker Patrick Bauer, a frequent opponent of Daniels, said he supports the idea.