Looking Ahead
New Graduation Requirements for the Class of 2028 and beyond
What's Changing?
We are excited to introduce significant updates to the graduation requirements for students in the class of 2028 and beyond. This page serves as an essential resource to communicate the intricacies of these new requirements that will be presented for a vote at the February board meeting. Alongside these changes, a new course catalog will also be proposed, emphasizing our commitment to a robust and evolving educational experience for our students. The information presented here will provide a detailed overview of the impending alterations, ensuring transparency and understanding as we collectively navigate these changes. Furthermore, the insights gathered from this data will play a crucial role in addressing staffing concerns, a topic we plan to delve into during the March board meeting. Your engagement and input are invaluable to us as we strive to create an educational environment that equips our students for success. We appreciate your ongoing support and partnership in shaping the future of education at Jackson Heights. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these changes, please contact Mr. Smith, Mr. Howard, or any member of the Board of education.
Current Requirements from KSDE and Jackson Heights
Currently KSDE requires 21 credits to graduation high school. As schools are permitted to exceed the minimum state requirement, Jackson Heights requires 27 credit hours operating on an 8 class hour day. Below you will see the break down of where we differ from the state requirements currently.
The state requirements below will still remain for all current high school students (with the class of 2027 being the final class). The decision was made in the early 2000's to move to an 8 hour day to allow for more elective offerings.
Total: KSDE: 21 Jackson Heights: 27
ELA: Both: 4
History and Government: Both: 3
Science: Both: 3
Math: Both: 3
PE: KSDE: 1 (PE and Health) JH: 1 PE & 1 Nutrition/Wellness
Fine Arts: Both: 1
Electives: KSDE: 6 JH: 10
Financial Literacy: KSDE: NA JH: 1
Class of 2028 KSDE Requirements
Credit Requirements
While KSDE's requirement is still 21 credit hours to graduate high school, they have significantly altered where those credits land. The link below this article thoroughly explains these changes. However the biggest changes are as follows:
Course Requirements class or 2028
State total credits 21
Communications: 3.5 credits of English Language Arts and 0.5 Credits Communications (Speech/Drama, journalism...)
Society & Humanities: 3 credits of Social Studies and 1 credit of fine arts
STEM: 3 credits of Science, 3 credits of math, and 1 credit of STEM (computer applications, advanced science, advanced math)
Employability & Life Skills: 0.5 Credits PE, 0.5 Credits Health, 0.5 credits Financial Literacy, and 4.5 Credits of IPS Choice (CTE Classes)
In Addition to Credits
Individual Plan of Study & Post Secondary Assets
In adition to the credit requirement changes. Starting with the class of 2028, students will also be required to generate an Individual Plan of Study that maps out their high school career and beyond. This will be worked on during seminar of their 8th grade year.
One key componenet of the IPS is the Post Secondary Assets. Students will be required to fullfill at least two of the following items: • Youth Apprenticeships • 40 or more Community Service hours • Client-centered Projects • Workplace learning experience directly related to a student IPS • Industry-Recognized Certifications • Seal of Biliteracy • ACT Composite (Score of 21 or higher) • WorkKeys Level (Silver or higher) • 9+ College hours • State Assessment scores of 3 or 4 for Math, ELA, Science (demonstrating College Readiness) • ASVAB per requirements of military branch selected • SAT score (1200 or higher) • Completing Board of Regents Curriculum • International Baccalaureate Exam (4+) • Advanced Placement Exam (3+) • CTE Scholar • Eagle Scout or Gold Scout • 4-H Kansas Key Award • Two or more high school athletics/activities • JROTC • 90% attendance in high school • Senior Exit Interview/Senior Projects
This is the list that had been generated by KSDE and will be growing each year as schools apply for more entries. The board will decide how many of these items we will be requiring for graduation.
Jackson Heights Proposal
Jackson Heights Proposal
The administration at Jackson Heights High School has crafted a comprehensive graduation plan for our students. While we propose to align with the Kansas State Department of Education's (KSDE) proposal of 21 credit hours as a baseline, we have opted to enhance our curriculum by incorporating an additional three elective credits. This decision raises the total graduation credit requirement to 24 credits from classes, emphasizing our commitment to providing a well-rounded and enriching academic experience. Additionally, a 1 credit hour from Seminar is proposed (0.25 per school year) that will be focused on the IPS for students. To accommodate this adjustment, we propose a shift to a 7-hour school day structure. This modification allows for extended class times and more generous passing periods, fostering an environment that supports in-depth learning and student success. The 7 hour schedule is below:
1st Hour: 8:10-9:00
2nd Hour 9:05-9:55
3rd Hour 10:00-10:50
4th Hour 10:55-11:45
5th Hour & Lunch: 11:50-1:05
6th Hour: 1:10-2:00
7th Hour: 2:05-2:55
Seminar: 3:00-3:25
Communication Class
Students have the option to fulfill the 0.5 credit requirement for communication in two distinct ways. The first avenue is through enrolling in the college speech class during their junior or senior years, which offers dual credit. This not only satisfies the communication credit requirement but also provides students with college credit. Alternatively, students can opt for courses such as drama, speech, or forensics to fulfill this credit. These diverse choices allow students to tailor their learning experience to align with their individual interests while meeting the communication credit requirement necessary for graduation.
STEM Classes
In meeting the demand for one credit in STEM, Jackson Heights is exploring the addition of a computer literacy position. This new role will enable us to introduce upper-level computer application courses, expanding our STEM offerings. Alternatively, KSDE has given guidance that students can fulfill this requirement by enrolling in a math class at the level of Algebra II or higher and a chemistry course or a more advanced science class. It's important to note that if a student chooses to allocate their math or science class toward their STEM credit, it will not concurrently count towards their science or math credit, ensuring clarity in credit distribution. Because of this, we propose using the Computer Pathway as the avenue for completing the STEM credit.
Employability & Life Skills
To fulfill the 4.5 credit hour mandate for Career and Technical Education (CTE) classes, students will enroll in courses within a chosen CTE Pathway. These pathways encompass a range of subjects, including Agriculture, Consumer Sciences, Business, Marketing, and Computer Literacy.
Additionally, as part of this proposal, a stipulation for 3 elective credits will be introduced. These elective credits can be earned through supplementary courses in physical education, industrial arts, woods, art, music, or alternative electives.
Seminar Credit
The one-credit seminar graduation requirement will be distributed across four years, with students earning 0.25 credits annually at Jackson Heights. Evaluation will be based on various components, including active participation in the Individual Plan of Study, fulfilling other requirements such as student-led conferences and engaging in career development. This framework also serves as the platform for students to focus on developing their Post-Secondary Assets.
Timeline
The current timeline for implementation is as follows:
Now until February 7: The High School Task Force will be generating a final proposal to be voted on at the February Board meeting. The proposal will include the graduation requirements, course catalogue, and request for staffing. We will also be taking any feedback that the community has to offer.
February 12: USD 335 School Board will vote on the new requirements, Course Catalogue, and new staff positions.
February 12 until filled: begin to pursue candidates to fill new staffing positions.
How does a 7 hour day effect other grades?
Class of 2025-2027
While we are recommending a transition to a 7-hour school day for the upcoming academic year, it's essential to acknowledge that three student cohorts will continue to adhere to the existing graduation requirement of 27 credits. To address the challenges stemming from this transition, the committee has proposed a graduated decline in credit requirements. Specifically, the Class of 2025 will be required to complete 26 credits (inclusive of all other credits plus 9 electives), the Class of 2026 will complete 25 credits (inclusive of all other credits plus 8 electives), and the Class of 2027 will fulfill 24 credits (inclusive of all other credits plus 7 electives). This approach ensures a smoother transition for students while maintaining the academic standards necessary for graduation.