Bixby board adopts districtwide "pathways" graduation plan and schedules family advisement
Summary
The Bixby Board of Education approved 17 district pathways aligned to OSDE 20/30 graduation requirements and a new "explorer" pathway for students previously on the core diploma; staff outlined counselor training and January advisement sessions for families.
The Bixby Board of Education on Dec. 11 approved a districtwide pathways framework that will require every graduating student to be enrolled in a pathway tied to Oklahoma State Department of Education requirements.
Tanya, who led the presentation with Jessica, told the board "All students who graduate from Bixby Public Schools must be on a pathway, period, full stop." The plan includes 17 named pathways plus an 18th "explorer" pathway designed to serve students who previously relied on the core diploma option.
School officials said the pathways align to OSDE 20/30 graduation rules and local implementation of state guidance (packet referenced HB language). The framework defines universal electives (including AP courses counted as electives when taken in addition to core coursework) and clarifies that concurrent enrollment credits count as core credit when appropriate.
Jessica described the rollout plan: pathway committees composed of administrators, counselors and teachers will build program-of-study pages and present committee recommendations in April. Counselors will be trained to advise students one-on-one; district staff will host academic-advisement nights for families in January with general sessions and pathway-specific breakout sessions to support course requests and enrollment.
Board members asked how the plan will affect student-athletes and college-bound students. Tanya said counselors will ensure the pathway selections do not conflict with college admission requirements and cited plans to use advisory and appointment tools to schedule individual counselor meetings.
The board voted to approve the 17 pathways and the associated course lists in the packet, and authorized staff to proceed with the family advisement and committee timeline described in the presentation. The decision follows months of internal pathway committee work and prior board training sessions on the initiative.
Officials said next steps include further development of internship and community-partnership opportunities in select pathways and committee presentations in April. Parents who cannot attend January sessions will be offered slide decks and recorded materials.
