HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Starting next school year, Alabama students will have to meet new criteria in order to graduate, as the Alabama Board of Education voted on requirements that make sure students are ready for what's next.
They voted 5-to-2 on the measure to add a requirement that acknowledges graduates are ready for college. Gov. Ivey hopes that this will help students on their next journey
“There is nothing more important that we can do than to make sure our students graduate ready for the next step,” Gov. Ivey told the board during meeting. “And since the rule does not take effect until 2028, we have plenty of time to work with local school districts to expand access to a range of college and career readiness indicators to meet the interests of every student.”
Under the new requirements, students will have to complete at least one the 10 options indicating they're ready for college or a career.
- Earning a benchmark score in any subject area on the ACT college entrance exam
- Earning a qualifying score of three or higher on an advanced placement exam
- Earning a qualifying score of four or higher on an international baccalaureate exam
- Earning college credit while in high school
- Earning a silver or gold level on the ACT Work Keys exam
- Completing an in-school youth apprenticeship program
- Earning a career technical industry credential listed on the compendium of valuable credentials of the Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways
- Being accepted into the military before graduation
- Attaining career and technical education completer status
- Any additional college and career readiness indicator approved by the State Board of Education.
While this may seem like a sudden change, many North Alabama schools, like Brewer High School have already implemented career ready programs. Brooke Hudson, Assistant Principal at the school says they've been preparing students for their careers for some time now
"We've been tracking our CCR completers for the past couple of years more heavily," Hudson said. " One of the ways we've been able to do that specifically as it relates to the new state requirement is with the career tech completers, and so that is for students who have completed a career tech program by taking a specific program for four years and earning a credential through that."
While the current requirements seem less stressful on students, there are benefits to the new law that Hudson says puts many students ahead
"The benefit for students to complete those requirements or to earn the CCR before graduating is because it's basically an indicator either for them to be more successful and to have already obtained some college credit," Hudson stated. "But additionally, specifically with career tech, usually that credential will go ahead and give them a leg up in the workforce because they're showing that employer that they've already put forth the time and the skill and that they have what it takes to be successful in their career field."
Parents and instructors may be worried that that children will not adjust we
"If you ask any one of our career tech students, they will typically tell you that they love it," Hudson stated. "They're thrilled to get to be here. They want to earn that credential because they want to get a better paying job. They want to go straight into the workforce. We're very fortunate to have wonderful partners here with our career tech school. They take our students and go ahead and hire them, get them in the workforce. And so, our students know that if they'll put forth the work and the dedication and they'll more than likely have a greater opportunity towards a job in the future."
