Reply to Why did BOE not demand Financial Literacy Graduation Requirement

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It seems from the relatively shallow BOE presentation that the thought MCPS staff put into SMOB O'Looney's request (towards the beginning of the school year) was minimal.  It's hard to fathom that they didn't touch base on it with her several times over the year, but it looked from the meeting exchange as though thry had not done so -- she was left grasping to formulate alternative approaches on the spot instead of being able to draw from a robust set of well-researched options.  Makes me wonder if they did with certain other board members to know they would have enough support to recommend against it.

I wish an approach had been taken to make achieving some standard of Financial Literacy a graduation requirement, allowing independent study /SSL experience with a test out for those who wished to avoid taking (and passing) a class that might keep them from a desired elective.  That seemed like an obvious answer to me, but without its having been evaluated & presented as an option, the proceedings inevitably went as they did - kicking the cam down the road (and possibly hoping to sweep it under the rug if more independent voices like O'Looney's are not on the board at the time).[/quote]

If MCPS was kicking the can down the road, my interpretation of the reason was because the Maryland Blueprint for Excellence may have unintended consequences, and MCPS was reluctant to add an extra graduation requirement that may make it harder for some students to graduate.  It is good content, but requiring a semester class is a narrow approach that may not work.[/quote]

...which is why a test-out option via SSL or independent study was an obvious choice.  A class for those who wish to have elective instruction and a test-out for those needing/wanting to preserve the elective slot for a different course of study.  Still would have ensured a basis of financial literacy as one enters adulthood, preventing a multitude of societal ills, which was O'Looney's objective.

That MCPS didn't prepare that option for the BOE's consideration is pitiful, and pitiable for those who will be left more likely to experience financial hardship.

Regarding the four year math requirement, modification of the rule to except any student who successfully has completed a college-level course (e.g., Calculus) would reduce the credit burden and re-open elective pathways.  This is a MD dictate, not MCPS, and would have to be changed at the state level.[/quote]

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