Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Graduation Requirements topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
BASD board approves higher graduation credit requirement, phases out ACP credit
Summary
The Burlington Area School District board approved a second‑reading change to policy 5460 increasing graduation credits from 23 to 24 beginning with the class of 2030 and removing stand‑alone credit for ACP (Academic and Career Planning). The change passed on a roll‑call vote with no public comment.
The Burlington Area School District Board of Education voted May 11 to raise the district’s high‑school graduation requirement from 23 to 24 credits beginning with the class of 2030 and to discontinue awarding credit for ACP (Academic and Career Planning) and the program referred to in the record as “driven,” starting in 2026.
Policy committee chair Koberneck, presenting the second reading, said the change adjusts elective‑credit calculations and aligns district language with state requirements. "The students would go from 23 credits... 24 credits would start at the class of 2030," Koberneck said, noting elective requirements shift incrementally (the committee’s text moves elective credits from 7 to 7.5 for an interim cohort and lists an 8.5 figure for a later cohort that was described as a correction in the draft).
The committee explained the ACP credit is being removed because financial‑literacy requirements are now listed in the district’s required credits under state law, so a separate ACP credit line is redundant. Koberneck also summarized that some extracurricular activities and clubs had previously earned credit that the committee no longer recommended treating as stand‑alone credit.
There were no public commenters on the item. The motion to approve the amended policy (second reading) was moved by Koberneck and seconded by Brown. During the roll‑call vote the board recorded affirmatives from Ben, Andrea, Paul, Marlo and Roseanne; one member (Kate) was absent. The motion passed as presented.
The board chair said the approved language will be implemented beginning with current eighth graders. Administrators noted students who already hold ACP credit on transcripts would not lose previously earned credit, but the district will not award additional ACP/driven credit after the change takes effect.
The board’s action finalizes the policy language after committee review; the district said it will publish the updated policy text on the BASD website and notify families through the district newsletter and ParentSquare.
Next steps include updating counseling materials and student planning tools so families and students understand how the credit change affects diploma planning.
