Board advances first reading of new graduation policy requiring FAFSA completion and 2.5 credits of service learning or cultural‑competency coursework

The Board’s policy committee presented changes to policy 5460 (high school graduation) and advanced the revisions for first reading. The changes include two notable items: a state‑required confirmation that students and, when applicable, parents complete the federal financial aid application (FAFSA) as a prerequisite for a diploma, and a new district requirement of 2.5 credits of coursework that promotes service learning or cultural competency.

Committee members said the FAFSA expectation stems from a recently enacted state requirement; the district implemented the practice last year and reported no major implementation problems. Principal Riley told the committee she made herself available to assist families who needed help completing the FAFSA, and committee materials said a waiver process exists for families who decline to submit the form.

The proposed 2.5‑credit requirement will use existing course options, committee members said, not a new standalone class. Examples provided include AP Spanish (service component), environmental science, community‑based creative design, global public service, anthropology, comparative world religions, race/class/gender, African American studies, sociology and others. The committee said roughly 60–70% of students already earn equivalent credits and that summer electives could be used to meet the requirement when scheduling is tight.

Policy committee members and several board colleagues voiced support for exposing students to perspectives and civic skills. One board member linked the change to earlier 2020 calls for anti‑racist and culturally responsive measures and said the requirement would expand access to courses that have historically run with low enrollment.

At the same time, at least one board member urged clearer policy language on “cultural competency” to avoid imposing particular social theories; that member said they would abstain on the policy vote today and asked the policy committee to refine the definition and list of qualifying courses before final adoption. The committee said it would revisit language and implementation after the first cycle of data and that the requirement would take effect for the graduating cohort targeted in 2029.

The policy is at first reading; no final adoption was recorded at this meeting.