FRANKFORT, Ky. (LEX 18) — Kentucky Education Commissioner Wayne Lewis announced in detail the proposed revisions to minimum high school graduation requirements.
The decision to change state graduation rules has sparked controversy in previous months.
A public hearing was held on the new proposed rules, which would require students to meet college and career readiness standards and demonstrate competency in math and reading.
“We received constructive feedback from stakeholders across the state and have consequently made revisions to the proposal that we hope will result in a high school diploma that meets the needs of all Kentucky students and the future workforce of the Commonwealth,” Lewis said in a statement.
The proposed changes include the introduction of Graduation Prerequisites. Under the revised statute, students may now demonstrate basic competency in reading and math in one of three ways:
- The student’s tenth-grade state-required assessments meeting the minimum criteria in reading and mathematics;
- The student’s eighth-grade state-required assessment rating of proficient or higher for reading or mathematics or both reading and mathematics, if applicable; or
- A student collection of evidence to include the following:
The process shall require the principal to submit the collection of student evidence to the superintendent or designee for review and approval, or for public charter schools principals to submit the collection of student evidence to the Commissioner of Education or designee.
The “Transition Readiness” component has been removed in an effort to promote equity among districts and students. Resources can vary greatly between districts, and some stakeholders believed Transition Readiness would have put an undue burden on smaller or financially strapped districts by having to provide additional courses to students. Under the revised proposal, students may now choose one of seven Graduation Qualifiers:
