6/10/09

Suburban News

Khalila Perrin

* The increase will keep Columbus’ requirements ahead of the state’s CORE curriculum revamp, and go in effect with the class of 2014.

The state requires 20, but Columbus City Schools administrators want to up the number of credits required to graduate from high school to 22, beginning with the class of 2014.

The district requires now students earn 21 credits to graduate.

The proposed change comes in response to the Ohio Core, which outlines graduation requirements that go into effect beginning with the class of 2014 — next year’s eighth-graders.

The requirements, which were signed into law in 2007, are designed to add more rigor to the high school curriculum, especially in science and math.

The state’s 20 required credits, include:

*Four credits in English;

*Four math credits;

*Three credits in social studies;

*Three credits in science, including lab time and inquiry-based learning;

*Half a credit each of health and physical education; and

*Five credits of electives.

The district’s tailored version of the CORE which will need approval by the board of education in August, requires two credits of a world language in addition to the state core requirements.

A senior capstone project also will become a requirement for students in the classes of 2014 and beyond.

The project calls for students to produce a portfolio based on a yearlong academic research project of their choice.

The administration’s proposed graduation requirements also recommend students take electives, including one credit each in fine arts, technology and interning; plus a fourth science or social studies course.

With the shift in requirements also come new diploma designations.

They include the:

*Diploma with certification of specialization, which will be awarded to students who earn five or more credits in a single area of study, which could include electives and classes from the core curriculum; and the

*Diploma with Distinction, which requires a student to complete three or more years of a foreign language, and a fourth advanced science class, plus a fourth social studies course.

Under the district’s proposed plan, students could earn credit toward graduation as early as eighth grade by taking their required physical education coursework, for one.

That’s one reason district Superintendent Gene Harris wants the board’s approval of the plan soon, she told board members during a June 2 meeting.

“By the time they are in ninth grade (in the 2010-11 school year) we need to be ready to go with everything in place so that they have the full opportunity to meet the requirements,” she said.

Before the district implements the new requirements, board members and residents will have the opportunity to weigh in on the recommended changes at the next board meeting, June 16.

The board is expected to vote on the proposal at its Aug. 4 or 18 meeting.