COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A proposed pilot program that allows teenagers who don't expect to graduate to take courses that will prepare them for the high school equivalency test is heading to the Senate floor.

The legislation approved Wednesday by the Senate Education Committee would create a trial GED program for students ages 16 to 19.

The roughly $55,000 cost for each school covers the teachers' pay and computer equipment.

Senators say the program's start may have to wait until the economy improves. They say there may be no money in the budget to start it this fall as initially hoped.

The 15 students in each pilot program would split their day between GED preparation courses and traditional classes or vocational training. Students enrolled in school can't take the GED. So students in the program still must officially drop out before they could take the test.