Graduation Requirements Revised for Class of 2016 and Beyond

Graduation requirements for the Class of 2016 and beyond -- today's students in grade 8 and lower -- have been revised, putting career-technical education classes in the elective category, according to an April 10 Board of Education action.

The Board approved using the University of California's "a-g" courses as a basis for graduation requirements for students, beginning with the Class of 2016. It removed an earlier proposal to mandate two semesters of career-technical education courses. Students will be required to complete the ‘a-g’ coursework in order to graduate high school while still being able to take the popular career classes as electives. Classes range from engineering to information technology to medical technology in 15 career sectors (read more).

The Board also voted to fund workshops in the 2012-13 school year to inform parents/guardians and students about the new requirements. As the new graduation requirements are more rigorous than those required by the state, additional funding is being allocated on an equitable basis to schools for students who need help to pass the required courses.

More information on the current and future graduation requirements is available online at www.sandi.net/graduation.