I heard Gov. Brad Henry speak recently and during questions afterwards he was addressed as the “lottery governor.”

Henry answered the question but pointed out that he would much prefer to be known as the “education governor.”

True, Henry's agenda has included issues such as a state lottery and a gaming compact with Native American tribes.

But, his platform has always included several progressive education initiatives such as the public pre-school program he proposed in his 2007 state of the state address.

His latest education reform effort is a bill in the state legislature aimed at reducing the number of high school dropouts.

Around 6,000 students dropped out of Oklahoma high schools last year. Henry's plan aims to reduce that number by raising to 18 the age at which a student could legally leave school with parental consent.

The bill that passed the Senate Thursday, and now moves to the House, would require that students stay in school until they turn 18 or get a high school diploma. The legislation would allow exceptions for mental and physical disabilities or for some other hardships.

Currently, a student can leave school at 16 if parents agree. One deterrent to dropping out that early was supposed to be not being able to get a driver's license until age 18. But I doubt if a parent allows their child to leave school they're not really going care if they drive without a license.

Henry says his goal is to ensure that every Oklahoma student gets a high school diploma.

This latest legislation won't guarantee that but it sure gives a lot of kids a better chance of accomplishing that walk across the stage. The governor also is seeking additional funding to alternative schools and increased remediation classes as other ways to reduce the number of dropouts.

You might not agree with the governor's gaming initiatives but you've got to respect his efforts to improve education.

Jerry Pittman is publisher of The Express-Star. You can e-mail him at cnhi.com