The Clinton Prairie School Board heard a presentation Tuesday night on the new graduation pathway requirements which all students in the Class of 2023, or those starting in eighth grade this fall, will have to satisfy in order to graduate.
“High schools across Indiana are working towards meeting the new graduation requirements,” said Clinton Prairie Superintendent Amanda Whitlock. “I know all four of our county principals have been working together to try and meet the needs of the kids. Beginning with students entering the eighth grade (this fall), there are several criteria they will have to accomplish before they graduate.”
The three graduation requirements are: high school diploma, learn and demonstrate employability skills and postsecondary-ready competencies.
The high school diploma is where students meet the statutorily defined diploma credit and curricular requirements.
The learn and demonstrate employability skills is where students learn employability skills standards through locally developed programs. Employability skills are demonstrated by one of the following: project-based learning experience, service-based learning experience or work-based learning experience.
There are several ways students can meet the postsecondary-ready competencies requirement. They are honors diploma by fulfilling all requirements of either the academic or technical honors diploma; ACT; SAT; ASVAB is where students earn a minimum AFQT score to qualify for placement into one of the branches of the U.S. military; state and industry recognized credential or certification; state, federal or industry recognized apprenticeship, career technical education concentrator is where a student must earn a ‘C’ average or higher in at least six high school credits in a career sequence; AP/IB/Dual Credit/Cambridge International courses or CLEP exams is where a students must earn a ‘C’ average or higher in at least three courses or the locally created pathway that meets the framework from and earns the approval of the State Board of Education.
“I think it’s actually going to make it a better fit for those students who are not going to get an academic honors diploma,” said Whitlock. “I think it’s going to be a better way to graduate.”
In other news, the board approved the hiring of Emily Welch as their new assistant principal at Clinton Prairie Elementary.
“The thing we really like about her is between her and our current principal Clint Wilson, they will have taught every grade at the elementary level so they can relate a lot to the elementary teachers,” said Whitlock. “She has infectious enthusiasm and she’ll just make a great part of the administrative team.”
Welch comes to Prairie from the Western Boone School District where she taught at Thorntown Elementary School for five years — four in kindergarten and one in fourth grade.
The board also gave Wilson and Clinton Prairie High School Assistant Principal Brad Smith two-year contracts.