Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Graduation Standards topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board signals change to graduation plan; several members push to require economics course
Summary
Board members directed administration to revise proposed graduation requirements to require a standalone economics course rather than allow students to satisfy the ‘empowered citizen’ requirement with either economics or a personal finance option.
Board members debated proposed changes to District 11 graduation requirements at the March 1 meeting and asked the administration to return with revised language that would require a standalone economics course.
The administration presented a draft that creates more flexibility in the elective/empowered‑citizen column of the diploma requirements to allow deeper, interest‑aligned coursework and to accommodate the district’s new “peak experiences.” Several directors — including Ott, Jorgensen and Haefeli — said economics is a distinct subject and should be required rather than optional in exchange for a personal finance course. Task‑force members and staff noted the state is considering requiring personal financial literacy statewide and that many personal finance standards can be embedded across existing courses (math or social studies).
Superintendent (title given in meeting) and Chief of Strategy (Ms. Autmer) said the district can rework the draft so economics is a required stand‑alone course (or otherwise adjust course placement) and would bring the revised package back to the board; the superintendent said the item will return as an action item at the next meeting.
Ending: Administration will revise the graduation requirement draft to reflect board direction on economics and return the item as action at the next board meeting.
