Graduation requirements to be made clearer

The array of English, math, science and history knowledge that

students have been required to learn in order to graduate may finally

become part of Burbank Unified School District’s official policy.

Trustees will vote Thursday on language, which will formally state

the school’s graduation requirement for students in the district.

“It makes the policy clearer,” said Burbank Adult High School

Principal Cherise Moore. “It’s now more inclusive.”

Although no specific problems arose because of the requirements

not being officially included, district officials wanted to prevent

any discrepancies or misunderstandings from occurring.

“We didn’t have board policy, the district didn’t have anything to

go on and we didn’t want future educators to be in that position,”

Deputy Supt. Alexis Sheehy said. “We wanted be able to point to board

policies and say, ‘here are the high school requirements and here are

adult school requirements’ and then no one has to guess.”

The requirements differ from the district’s comprehensive and

continuation high school requirements in that the adult school

students are exempt from physical education and health requirements.

“A lot of our adult students have come to us with life and career

experience already,” Moore said of the exemption.

Official board policy previously included the requirements for the

district’s elementary, middle and high schools, but did not state the

requirements for the adult high school.

“The requirements existed and we were functioning with them there;

now we have board policy,” Moore said.

The district underwent a Coordinated Compliance Review by the

state in January, which monitors how programs and state standards are

implemented by local districts.

They made recommendations, which included formally stating the

school’s graduation requirements and making sure they align with

state standards. According to a report to the board prepared by

Sheehy, the adult high school’s standards meet and even exceed the

state’s requirements and are also consistent with the requirements of

neighboring adult schools.

Students at the adult school must accumulate 130 units in the subject areas of English, mathematics, science, history, American

government, art and career education. They must also earn 50 credits

in electives, equaling 180 credits graduation require for graduation.

Between 50 to 75 adult students a year receive their high school

diplomas from the school and 15 to 20 receive their General Education

Degree.

Approximately 1,200 students are enrolled in the school, taking

not only high school classes, but also special interest classes on

things like photography, foreign languages and how to use computers.

The board will most likely approve the revision this Thursday, Moore

said.

Those interested in attending the school can call (818) 558-4611

and schedule an appointment to meet with a counselor in order to

identify what classes they need.

“We’re open; we’re ready to serve them,” said Moore, who hopes

making the requirements official board policy will help make people

more aware of the services the school offers. “We’re eager to have

them move toward their graduation dreams.”