DC Board of Education revising high school graduation requirements

[Anonymous]

So, while we're all fighting for boundary rights and feeder changes from the DME, the State Board of Education is seeking feedback on its newly revised high school graduation requirements. There are no public meetings listed on the website. However, you can always reach out to your Ward Board of Education representative or one of the directors listed on the site. Here's a link to the word document:
http://sboe.dc.gov/GraduationRequirementsandDiplomaOptions.

Revised graduation requirements and diploma options

~providing new multiple diploma options: Standard Diploma, Diploma of Distinction, Career and Technical Education, and Diploma options for special education students with severe cognitive disabilities. (this is to address the high rate of students failing or dropping out of school.)
~changing math requirements (proposed new courses below Algebra I to provide remedial math to significant number of students BUT it would not receive high school credit.) (Should they receive credit if they take the class?)
~changing social studies requirements (only one semester of civics!)[/i] and World history (small 'h' has meaning)
~Electives --reduced from 3.5 to 2.5 credits
~changing health and physical education-- increase GYM Requirements to 2.5 units from 1.5 units (Should kids be required to take another year gym rather than choosing an elective course?)

Also, rewriting competency language. "For all subjects, LEAs awarding credit for mastery should have in place a system by which students demonstrate mastery of required high school courses, as well as a plan to implement and continuously improve the system. The State Board of Education will identify and release targets for student learning while LEAs will be responsible for deciding appropriate competency assessment methods as well as defining sufficiency (identifying what is necessary and sufficient evidence for students to demonstrate mastery).

So, what do you think?

[Anonymous]

I worry about the downgrades on sociel studies because if it is not required classes won't be offered.

Civics and History are important.

[Anonymous]

The increased gym requirement is a direct result of the Healthy Schools Act.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The increased gym requirement is a direct result of the Healthy Schools Act.

Can't believe that this is a good use of time/money in below basic schools.

[Anonymous]

There are no guidelines in the healthy school for high schools. Here is the language:

grades 9-12:
High schools will work with OSSE and the State Board of Education to expand physical education.

I disagree that our school system/teachers need to solve every social problem. The schools schools should provide high quality education choices. Adding more gym is a waste of our school resources.

[Anonymous]

Very sad to hear about decreases in social studies requirements and increases in gym. That's just wrong.

[Anonymous]

I think there are a lot of kids who are able to learn better after taking some time to run around, and so I support 2.5 years of health/PE (it's not just gym. I'd argue that some sex ed and other health info is useful for everyone).

But it seems like you wouldn't be able to fit everything required for a diploma of distinction. Wilson's bell schedule has 7 periods plus a short student/teacher enrichment period. You have to take 4 years of English, social studies, math, science, foreign language--with lunch, that leaves only 1 period a day to cover .5 art, .5 music, 2.5 health/PE, and 2.5 electives. So essentially 4 period-years to fit 6 classes, plus a capstone. Do Wilson students usually use the STEP period for eating lunch? In that case, it seems much more doable (though it doesn't give them a lot of time to meet teachers, or even to get through the cafeteria line and then eat). My high school growing up had a 9-period day, so it was a lot easier to fit everything in (and we were required to take a semester of health, plus gym on alternating days all 4 years, so the same 2.5 total units DCPS is proposing). Maybe DCPS needs to do the same?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worry about the downgrades on sociel studies because if it is not required classes won't be offered.

Civics and History are important.

I think DCPS graduation rates will skyrocket and school reform will be touted as huge success!

[Anonymous]

There should be no PE requirement in HS,. At the very least if there is such a requirement, then a team sport should count toward the credit. Colleges don't care if you took PE.

[Anonymous]

As long as students have Math, English, Science and History all 4 years it doesn't matter what they select for electives. Could be bs classes or more rigorous courses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There should be no PE requirement in HS,. At the very least if there is such a requirement, then a team sport should count toward the credit. Colleges don't care if you took PE.

+1000!

[Anonymous]

DC requires .5 semester of civics now. Can you clarify the changes?

[Anonymous]

Is there an early graduation option?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC requires .5 semester of civics now. Can you clarify the changes?

Not in high school.

[Anonymous]

DC currently requires 2 credits in World History, 2 in US history, .5 in civics and .5 in DC history