Staff outlines new graduation credit requirements; Board to seek one‑year waiver for Personal Finance

Curriculum staff told the Board that Senate Bill 513 requires all high‑school students to earn 0.5 credit in civics beginning with the class of 2026 and that Senate Bill 3 establishes additional diploma requirements beginning with the class of 2027, including 0.5 credit in Personal Finance and 0.5 credit in Higher Education and Career Path Skills. Jen Mason explained the timeline for implementing civics within the Social Science curriculum and staff reported they will present a request for a one‑year waiver for the Personal Finance requirement at the next Board meeting so staff can select instructional materials and shift courses from elective to required status.

Directors asked whether the civics and finance courses would be graded with a letter grade or on a pass/fail basis, whether the curriculum would be consistent across all high schools, which grade level would host Personal Finance and how the district will communicate graduation‑tracking information (Major Clarity platform was mentioned). Staff committed to providing standards and additional details on placement and grading at a future meeting.