Monday night, the RISD board made a decision to settle the confusion about graduation requirements. They officially adopted the new graduation requirements from House Bill 3 for rising seniors on the Recommended Plan ONLY. Graduates of 2010 are no longer required to take a semester of health and two semesters of technology, and they now only need two semesters of P.E. instead of three. The action alleviates stress and frustration from seniors and their parents, who had been celebrating relief at having more space for electives. Younger students, graduating in 2011 or after, are still required to take the courses until further study can be done.
Seniors on the Distinguished Achievement Plan (DAP), must also complete these courses. When legislators passed HB3, they singled out the Recommended plan, used by most students, for relief. Ironic, because the DAP is more rigorous, and students on it would rather take Advanced Placement Statistics, Anatomy, Astronomy, Music Theory and other courses that boggle my brain. Insiders speculate that legislators will repair this oversight when they return to Austin in more than a year, but – in a crazy year like this has been – conventional wisdom flies out the window.
Meanwhile, back at Lake Highlands High School, counselors are gearing up to meet with seniors this Friday. According to the district, seniors may shift from health, PE, and tech only if space is available in another class. Principal Walter Kelly promises that every effort will be made to put seniors into a class they enjoy and are motivated to tackle with vigor.
