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Committee approves updated high‑school Program of Studies to reflect new state graduation rules
Summary
The School Committee approved changes to the North Kingstown High School 2024–25 Program of Studies to align course requirements and assessment transitions for the classes of 2025–2028 and clarified running‑start (dual‑enrollment) approval criteria.
The School Committee voted Aug. 1 to adopt amendments to the North Kingstown High School 2024–25 Program of Studies to align the district’s graduation/course requirements with updated Rhode Island Department of Education rules.
School counselors and curriculum staff explained the staged changes: the classes of 2025 and 2026 remain under the existing comprehensive course assessment (CCA) requirement; the class of 2027 will complete a senior project; and the class of 2028 and beyond will complete an established senior project course as part of the elective schedule. The committee will continue to require 23 graduation credits; the distribution of required course types has been clarified to reflect the new RIDE regulations.
Other changes include a clarification that beginning with the class of 2028 students must take four years of math taught by a designated math teacher (rather than a single math‑related course in senior year), and that the district’s technology requirement will shift toward a computer‑science requirement for the 2028 cohort. The program also now notes that some credits may be earned at the middle‑school level and updates the description of running‑start (dual‑enrollment) participation so that students must enroll full time (at least four courses per semester) and that approvals will be determined by school administration. Counselors will develop criteria and potential caps for the program’s expected growth.
Committee members asked for special‑education and 504 accommodations language to be clear: administration said IEP teams retain the ability to request waivers when appropriate, with documented family‑team conversations and RIDE approval where required. The board approved the Program of Studies updates on a voice vote and will review related policy items in follow‑up meetings.
Administration said it will share details with students and families and coordinate guidance counselors to manage requests for dual enrollment, senior projects and credit‑by‑proficiency pathways.
