Questions
& Answers
–
about
the Future-Ready Core and
high
school graduation requirements
with
the State Board of Education of N.C. Public Schools
Why
did the State Board of Education change high school
graduation
requirements?
The
State Board of Education is responsible for setting graduation requirements for
the
state’s
115 school districts. In carrying out that duty, members seek to match
requirements
that
best prepare all students for education and a career beyond high school. That
could
include
community college, four-year college or university study, or other kinds
of
on-going
learning. Today, many in the business community say that it takes about
the
same
level of academic preparation to be successful in the workplace as it takes
to
be
successful as a first-year college student. That was the guiding principle for
the State
Board
in making its decision.
What
is the difference between the old course requirements
(for students who started high school before 2009) and
the
Future-Ready
Core?
Prior
course requirements were divided into four courses of study – Career Prep,
College
Tech
Prep, College/University Prep and the Occupational Course of Study (for
certain
students
with disabilities). The four courses of study implied that students would
determine
their
life’s course while in high school and respond accordingly. The Future-Ready
Core
ends
the courses of study (except for the Occupational Course of Study for
qualified
students)
and, instead, requires students to plan their electives to focus on their
specific
interests
and goals.
The
primary changes in course requirements are the addition of a fourth math
requirement
and
the expectation that all students will complete math at an Algebra II level. The
other
subject
requirements remain essentially the same in number. Students will have 21
credits
required
under the state’s Future-Ready Core (22 credits are required under
the
Occupational
Course of Study).
It’s also important to note that local districts may have
additional
requirements for graduation.
Why
is this course of study called the Future-Ready
Core?
In
researching what students need in high school in order to be successful later,
the
focus
of the State Board of Education members was on helping students be ready
for
their
future. The “core” describes the fact that these 21 state-required courses (22
credits
are
required for the Occupational Course of Study) form the core of the high
school
curriculum.
In most schools’ schedules, there is room for students to complete as
many
as
32 courses or even more during their four years of high
school.
Is
the Future-Ready Core designed to prepare every student exactly
the
same?
No.
The Future-Ready Core is designed to ensure that all students learn what they
need
for
success with a 15 unit core of academic work alongside up to six additional
electives
that
each student can take in high school. The six elective courses, plus others
that
students
take beyond the core course requirements, enable students to customize
their
high
school education to meet their needs and interests.
How
does the graduation project fit in with the Future-Ready
Core?
The
Future-Ready Core refers to the courses that students take, but it is not the
only thing
that
students must do to earn a high school diploma. The
Project
is a requirement, as are passing scores on the end-of-course tests required
for
the
five essential courses that all students take (Algebra I, Biology, Civics and
Economics,
English
I and US History), passage of the Computer Skills test and meeting any
additional
local
requirements.
The
North Carolina Graduation Project is what some call an “authentic
assessment.”
In
other words, it is a way for students to demonstrate their ability to research,
create,
present
and explain a project of interest to them. These skills are often expected
in
today’s
workplace.
Algebra
II seems like a difficult level of math for all students
to
complete.
What if a student doesn’t want to take that level of
math?
Algebra
II is a higher level of expectation than some students have had to meet in
the
past.
However, most college bound students (community college or university)
have
already
passed this level of math in the past. For students who truly do not see Algebra
II
as
being in their best interest, there is an alternative for this Core math
requirement,
but
this decision would be made with input from the student’s parents, teachers,
and
guidance
counselor. If a student is able to complete Algebra II, it is in their interest
to do
so.
Algebra II is a minimum requirement for many college, university and
community
college
programs.
With
all the recent attention on high school dropouts, why make
it
harder
to graduate?
The
addition of one math requirement is the primary change to the course
requirements
and
even in that area, there are options for students who need them. The purpose
of
high
school graduation requirements is to make sure that students have the
academic
foundation
they need for life after high school. In past years when standards
have
increased,
there has been no impact on the state’s dropout rates. In fact, over half of
the
students
who drop out of school do so because of attendance issues. Only about
seven
percent
of students cite academic problems as the reason for dropping out of
school.
What
happens to students who move to
middle
of high school? Will they have to meet the Future-Ready
Core
requirements?
Unless
a student transfers to
he/she
will be responsible for completing the Future-Ready Core and the
Graduation
Project.
The principal will evaluate the student’s transcript to determine
how
their
existing course work aligns to the Future-Ready Core.
Public
Schools of