Hatboro‑Horsham presents 2026‑27 high school course changes, including 0.5‑credit personal finance graduation requirement

At the Hatboro‑Horsham School District board meeting on Nov. 24, Assistant Principal John Zook presented proposed updates to the high‑school course selection guide for the 2026‑27 school year and said the full course of study will be before the board on Dec. 15 for consideration.

Zook told the board the district is proposing a 0.5‑credit personal finance course to meet Pennsylvania’s recently stated requirement for a half‑credit financial‑literacy graduation requirement; “It is a graduation requirement for the class of 2,030 and beyond,” he said. The course would be offered to grades 10–12 and districts may choose how to meet the state guideline.

Zook described several departmental changes driven by enrollment data: the district proposes eliminating Digital Media 2 because requests have fallen and consolidating ninth‑grade digital photography into Digital Photo I so students can access higher‑level classes sooner. The math and special education departments will add courses intended to aid scheduling and to provide targeted support — for example, literacy strategies 2 and 3 and a sheltered basic math course to support students with interrupted education. The district also added a prerequisite (Intro to Computer Science) for the Java programming course to better prepare students.

World‑language updates include two Spanish for heritage learners courses designed to strengthen pathways to Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy recognition; music course adjustments would delete treble choir and rock ensemble due to low or variable enrollment while expanding Madrigals to both semesters. Zook said some activities formerly offered as courses are now meeting student interest through outside‑of‑class opportunities, reducing formal enrollment in elective courses.

Board members and students asked procedural and eligibility questions. When asked how students would access the Spanish heritage class, Zook said staff would meet with families and counselors to review background and language proficiency. Dr. McLaurin defined a SLIFE student as “a student with limited or interrupted formal education,” and staff said the sheltered courses are by recommendation only and require documented criteria (generally more than two years of interrupted formal education and low WIDA ACCESS scores).

Zook said the course selection guide will be posted for students and families once approved and reminded the board that the district uses data and equity principles to guide deletions and additions.