The education "mastery" bill, HB 493a, which would set up a pilot project to give incentives to students to move through school more quickly - including scholarships for those who graduate at least a year early - has passed the Senate on a 27-7 vote. Because senators amended the bill to add a six-year expiration clause, something backers thought already was in the bill but apparently was missing, the amended bill still must go back to the House for concurrence in the amendment and final passage before it can head to the governor's desk.

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