Montgomery, AL – The state school board could vote next month to make Alabama the 19th state toraise high school graduation requirements. But the plan has met resistance from some school officials who worry about cost and increasing the state's already-low graduation rate.
The proposal would add foreign language work and more math.
State Superintendent Joe Morton has been pushing the changes as imperative. He said Alabama's seniors won't be able to compete with students around the country -- let alone around the world -- without them.
The school board is scheduled to vote on the proposal on May 8th. It was first introduced in February and the board has had two discussions on the issue since then.
If approved, Morton said a committee will be appointed to develop policies, guidelines, and sample schedules to show local administrators how the plan will work.
Susan Lockwood is executive director of the School Superintendents of Alabama. She said the group feels the committee should be formed before the vote - not after.
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