The bar is being raised for students in the graduating class of 2011, today's seventh graders, as graduation standards have become more rigorous. With the high school graduation requirements bill fresh our of committee and enroute to the desk of Gov. Granholm, who is expected to sign the bill as soon as she receives it, not much stands in the way of the new curriculum.
The new requirements will beef up high school studies by way of mandating additional courses in math and science, as well as adding a foreign language requirement. The foreign language requirement is set to be phased in for the class of 2016. Currently the only state-required course is civics.
For those attending Brimley Area Schools the change will not be a big difference as the district currently requires four years of English, three years of math, three years of science, and three years of social studies.
The most difficult portion to implement, according to Brimley Superintendent Alan Kantola, will be the specific class requirements, such as Algebra I, II, geometry, and physics.
Kantola said his only concern is for those students who are unable to complete the specific courses, such as those who have difficulty handling math. The new requirements will have a waiver-style system which will address that issue.
"If the waiver process works sufficiently we shouldn't have a problem," said Kantola. "It's going to be a big change, but I don't think it is something that we're going to have a great deal of difficulty with."
The district plans on current faculty to teach the new courses and not hiring new teachers.
"We already have enough on staff to teach the requirements," said Kantola.
