2013: Graduation May Require Fewer Units

leaders are set to consider a number of curriculum changes as a result of the , which takes effect in the fall.

At a work session set for 6 tonight, the school board is set to discuss recommendations from its Curriculum Committee, including a measure that would require high school students to earn only 24 units to graduate, one more than the minimum number required by the state.

With Cartersville High's current block schedule, students are required to earn 28, and have more possibilities—32 unit choices, as compared to the 28 proposed to start with 2013's graduating class.

"In a block schedule, [students] take four courses in two semesters a year for four years, and you have 32 total classes," said Assistant Superintendent Ken Clouse. "In the seven-period day that we're going to, there's seven classes that meet all year long for four years, and that's 28 possibilities.

"In the total four years, yes, it's less classes, but in the classes they take, they'll be in class for each one of those for a longer period of time."

While some teachers and , Superintendent Howard Hinesley has said although changes—including —will result, the system can no longer financially sustain a block schedule, which does not as a period plan.

But in a phone interview today, Clouse said in the fall would continue to offer the same courses it has in the past, and "if enough students sign up for [a class], then that class will make."

Another related proposal is a change in a career/tech offering. The committee is recommending a move from Accounting to what Clouse said is a related, but expanded field, Consumer Services.

"It's a series of courses to make sure the kids get what they're interested in, the full complement of those courses," Clouse said, citing Automotive classes I, II and III as examples. "We've been doing an Accounting pathway, but it's pretty specific. If they're going into accounting, that's what [they] take and kids haven't really been taking that.

"The broader field there is Consumer Services, and that has some accounting principals in it, but it's much broader and gives students much more flexibility to go into Marketing or something like that. And that's become a pretty popular degree at the collegiate level, so we thought that was a better preparation."

In addition to changes in the number of units required to move from one grade to the next, which coincide with the proposal for fewer units required to graduate, the committee is recommending course sequence changes.

Clouse said variations to class orders include U.S. History, which had been a 10th grade class, moving to 11th grade; Biology from ninth to 10th grade; and Physical Science from 10th to ninth.

In addition to curriculum changes, the board at its business meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, is set to decide on the $11,500 purchase of furniture for the new transportation training facility.

That facility was constructed following the March 2011 death of 8-year-old Garrett Black, who was .

Tuition rates and policy changes are also on the work session agenda, a .pdf of which is attached to this article.