All public school students will be given post-secondary education and workforce readiness to prepare them for life after high school.
The new credentials came about after seeing the large amount of low test scores among students due to learning during the pandemic.
Some board members voiced their concerns that the new requirements will lower the graduation rate among the public schools, but some local high schools have already provided their students with college and career readiness and have had a very high graduation rate. Dr. Eric Mackey, who is the Alabama State Superintendent of Schools, was among the Board of Education to explain the requirements state public schools would be adopting.
“Board members want to make sure they’re doing what’s right for high school students,” stated Dr. Mackey. “Everybody on the board wants to raise expectations for all of our students but also wants to make sure that we’re doing it in a fair and appropriate way, making the right steps. I feel like we’re there, I think we really do need to go ahead and move this for the class of ’28, but I understand the concerns that board members have.
The college and career readiness requirements will go into effect for the 2023-2024 school year with those students graduating during the 2027-2028 school year.