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Board discusses 2025-26 calendar and HB171'era graduation requirement changes; counselors to advise students on new credit rules
Summary
The board reviewed the Cliff Schools 2025'26 calendar, adjusted after state guidance about four-day campuses, and discussed statewide HB171 changes to graduation requirements including two local credits and the removal of Algebra II as a statewide graduation requirement; counselors and principals will help students and families understand impacts.
District leaders briefed the board on two related topics: the Cliff Schools 2025'26 school calendar and statewide changes to high-school graduation requirements under HB171.
Director-level staff said recent state guidance prompted districts to ensure weeks designated as "four-day instructional weeks" truly reflect instruction delivered on only four calendar days. Associate superintendent Cindy Barris and Superintendent Hawkins said Cliff's calendar was revised to ensure each week labeled as a four-day instructional week meets that definition; the calendar still meets the state mandate of 1,140 instructional hours and contract-day requirements.
Board members then discussed HB171, the 2024'25 state law that changes high-school credit rules. Staff described major shifts: the law removes Algebra II as a required statewide graduation course (districts must still offer it), adds two locally determined credits (recommended by the district as one CTE credit and one "future readiness" elective), and clarifies how middle-school courses may count for high-school credits. Staff emphasized that students already in the system (current freshmen through seniors) remain under prior credit expectations for courses already required; the changes phase in for new cohorts.
The board discussed the local implementation details. Counselors and principals will work to identify which middle-school courses will count for high-school credit and to advise families on whether students who took online or middle-school courses during COVID received appropriate credit. Hawkins and staff said Principal Crystal Alexander has been working with counselors to identify students affected by earlier online-credit practices during the COVID years and to develop remediation and scheduling plans.
Board members asked for clarity about which local courses would fill the two new local-credit slots; staff recommended one CTE credit and one future-readiness elective (fine arts, core elective, or another approved course) and said program availability and teacher credentials will determine how many students can use the options.
No final policy vote was recorded during the discussion; staff said counselors will continue individual advising and the board would formalize local-credit choices as required by state law.
