RSS Feed
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
NMRHS to tighten graduation requirements
The Department of Education states that high schools should offer 990 hours of structured learning time. NMRHS does not currently do so. "We are correcting the situation," said Manley. Manley said state officials will be looking at the high school next year, and would make the recommendation of more structured learning time. He said the regional school committee and administration are taking steps to be proactive. Manley suggested study halls would be eliminated and be replaced with longer instructional periods. He said administrators and the school committee have been looking at restructuring the high school. "It is a continuation of an ongoing discussion," said Manley. According to School Committee Secretary Dennis Moore, changing the graduation requirements has been in the works for several years. Moore represents Ashby on the committee. He said the previous administration had other issues to deal with first, which allowed the new administration to be able to address the structured learning issue now. The school committee approved the new requirements at its Dec. 11 meeting. Those requirements would go into effect with the class of 2011. However, Manley said they are thinking of piloting the changes with next year's seniors. "We felt it was important to tighten the requirements," said Moore. The biggest change, said Moore, would be adding 10 credits of world language. Currently, there is no required number of world language credits to graduate. Manley said they are looking into offering Mandarin Chinese and American Sign Language courses. Another requirement to be added would be a senior project. Manley said this is an opportunity for seniors to put together a portfolio or project incorporating the various topics they have learned about. He said it involves a public presentation. "It has been a great success in other schools," said Manley. Moore said the senior project would help students prepare for college. The district also wants to help students prepare for life after high school by offering more dual-enrollment and work-study internships. Manley said the high school does offer dual enrollment, where a student takes some courses at a local college, but it is not taking place to the extent it should. As for the work-study internships, Manley said the school would have to change its schedule first. Under the current rotating schedule, the same class is not held at the same time every day. Manley said students would have to be able to leave at the same time each day for the internship program to work, so the school will have to look into a non-rotating schedule. Moore said Superintendent Maureen Marshall talked with the senior class and parents to solicit suggestions. He said most students want to be challenged. "They have to be there, so they want something to do," said Moore. "We should make kids feel like their senior year is serving a purpose." Moore added that many students finish their requirements for graduation by junior year. He also said the committee wants to help the students get into college, which is getting more competitive every year. "Students have enough to compete against without the system hindering them," said Moore. The graduation requirement policy has not been updated since 1996, and most of that was carried over from the previous policy, he said. Manley said over time he thinks the district would want to look at the policy each year. "It is important to reassess what to do and to stay current with the students," said Manley.
Graduation Requirements * Students must successfully complete at least 15 credits in each subject area and 5 additional credits in either subject area. |
for larger version       Ads have a Patent Pending. Click Here for More Information |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
)