A task force of parents/guardians and staff has been reviewing high school graduation course requirements throughout this school year and has recommended changes to the Superintendent. The School Board reviewed the proposal on April 5. The new graduation requirements would only affect future high school students, not those currently in high school.
The task force researched what students need for success in college and careers after high school, and the proposal aligns district requirements to support students in meeting those goals, says Sherrie Brown, executive director of School Administration.
"We have intentionally proposed a gradual phasing in of these requirements. We need to be certain that we first have the structures in place throughout our k-12 system to support all students in experiencing success," Brown says.
Currently, students need to complete 23 course credits, a culminating project, a high school and beyond plan, and pass the reading, writing and math sections of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). The task force is proposing changes in the course requirements only. The proposal keeps the required courses at 23, but specifies that students need four years of English (beginning with the class of 2012), three years of math at least through algebra 2 (beginning with the class of 2013), and two years of world language (beginning with the class of 2014). More than half of district high school students are already meeting these requirements.
"I believe that each and every student can take the necessary curriculum to be college eligible, whether they choose technical, community or four-year college," says Sehome counselor Julie Kratzig, who served on the task force. "The addition of a few required courses will prepare students for any post-high school option. It is all about having choices for all students."
High school students would need to choose 5.0 credits of other courses from any department and from qualifying courses for 1.0 credit of occupational education. The proposal includes removing a technology education requirement and instead embedding it into middle school coursework (beginning with the class of 2013).
The current graduation requirements of 2.0 credits of science, 3.0 credits of social studies, 1.0 credit of arts, 1.5 credits of physical education, and a .5 credit health would remain unchanged because they already meet or exceed Higher Education Coordinating (HEC) Board College/University Entrance Requirements. For example, the HEC Board entrance requirement is a .5 credit of arts, but the district requires a minimum of 1.0 arts credit at the high school level. The option to waive physical education if a student meets the fitness challenge would remain unchanged to allow for additional coursework in other areas.
Students would have a range of course choices, including a diverse selection in the arts and career/technical education, Brown says. To view a sample schedule scenario for a student in the class of 2014 for whom all the requirements would be implemented, visit http://www.bham.wednet.edu/staff/GradReqsTaskForce.htm
"Fifty years ago it was still possible to earn a decent wage and support a family without a high school diploma or post-secondary training. Those days are gone. For a career in vocational trades, the arts, engineering or whatever our students want to do -- it all requires some type of college or specialized training after high school," says Bellingham High School Principal Steve Clarke. "If we don't adequately prepare all students and give them the opportunity to make choices about their future, many will likely live below the poverty line and none of us want that for our children."
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