Beloit policy committee keeps high-school graduation credit requirement at 26 after debate on lowering to 24

The Beloit School District Policy Committee voted Jan. 8 to keep the district's high-school graduation credit requirement at 26 credits while forwarding a package of edited graduation policies to the full board for first reading.

The committee debated a district recommendation to reduce the requirement to 24 credits to align with recent state guidance and practices at higher-performing districts. Michelle Morteck, who presented the proposed edits, said the district had compared credit requirements across high-performing and large districts and recommended a 24-credit minimum to increase flexibility for electives, career and technical education and work-based learning opportunities.

“Changing from 26 down to 24 will allow more students to participate in work-based learning opportunities,” Morteck said. She added the proposal would not change the state-required core credits and that students could still earn up to 32 credits over four years.

Board member Tom Hankins questioned whether cutting the total credits would reduce student exposure to electives that can guide career decisions and said he was “concerned about lowering it.”…