School Board To Discuss Alternative Education Center Graduation Requirements and Measure G

A consideration to reduce the number of elective credits needed to be completed by students at and high schools will be discussed Tuesday night.

The proposal is to reduce the number of general elective credits by 30 and cut down the number of Fine Arts credits by 10 for all current and future students at the alternative education center.

A staff report on the matter will be presented at the Newark Unified Board of Education meeting that begins at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the , 5715 Musick Ave.

According to the board’s agenda, the main reasons for the proposal are based upon the following matters:

1. Staff members are challenged with offering the students electives and Applied/Fine Arts diploma requirements with current resources.
2. Staff members report that it may be unrealistic to achieve long-term goals that will help the schools work toward eligibility requirements for admission to a California State University without reducing electives and Applied/Fine Arts requirements.
3. Approximately 40 percent to 60 percent of the students do not pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) and those students who take CAHSEE courses are only given elective credits once.
4. Staff said it is difficult for students to fulfill graduate requirements in the four-year time period they are given with the current number of required elective and Applied/Fine Arts credits.
5. Staff members report that the schools can improve their core content curriculums if there were less course offerings in general electives and Applied/Fine Arts.
6. A reduction in requirements will allow students who initially strive to earn credits to be re-enrolled at Newark Memorial High School and then decide to earn a diploma through Bridgepoint or Crossroads to be awarded a diploma that includes a “With Honors” distinction.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the board will discuss a board reorganization that will include the election of officers, an adoption of policies and bylaws, fixing time of meetings to 7 p.m. and setting meeting dates from January through June.

The board will also hold a work study session that will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the district office that will center around what to do after passing a bond.

Newark residents voted in favor of in November – a bond that means property owners will have to contribute to a $63 million bond that will help pay for facilities upgrades throughout the

For more information on the board meeting, see the attached agenda, or click here to download a copy.