The Shawnee Heights board approved two new high-school courses for next year: a strengthened Financial Literacy course to meet state graduation requirements and a Contemporary Math course proposed for dual credit in partnership with Washburn University. The board approved the course proposals by motion (moved by Christina, seconded by Christie) with a recorded vote of 6-0.

Curriculum staff said Financial Literacy replaces the district's prior Personal Finance course and expands instruction on saving and investing. On the Contemporary Math proposal, staff said Washburn University is preparing a dual-credit offering; the district intends to partner with Washburn so students who do not need or are not ready for college algebra can still earn college math credit.

Staff described enrollment and placement safeguards for the Washburn contemporary-math dual-credit pathway. As stated to the board, students must meet placement requirements such as a math ACT near 19 or higher, a sufficient high-school GPA and a passing placement test; teachers and counselors will guide students individually and the district will include course descriptions in the course guide. "If you're going to spend college tuition money on a class, we want it to be a class that's going towards a degree your kid is wanting to go into," curriculum staff said, explaining the district's intent to align dual-credit choices with students' goals.

Board members asked how the district will communicate course choices to families and whether Washburn credits transfer to other Kansas universities; staff said credits generally transfer but acceptance toward a specific degree depends on the receiving institution. Staff committed to provide materials to parents, use student-led conferences and counseling to advise students, and to return additional curriculum maps or course materials as Washburn finalizes its offering.

The board approved the proposals without changes and directed staff to continue communications and counseling outreach prior to enrollment.