A recently approved set of requirements has been established as the stepping stones to graduation for the incoming class of 2029. This new “blueprint for success,” crafted by the Indiana Department of Education, grants students the opportunity to explore courses that fit them and also cultivates skills essential for students interested in pursuing a job straight out of graduation.
In comparison to the current Indiana Core 40 graduation diploma, this new diploma doesn’t follow strict requirements. Instead, it encourages students to start off their freshman year with a basic subject course and then explore courses that align with the subject and their interests.
For example, the traditional build-up of Algebra I, geometry and Algebra II is no longer needed, nor are certain English or science courses, aside from English 9 and Biology I. Rather, freshmen can start off with Algebra I and Personal Finance and later advance to mathematical courses to their likings, which follows the same pattern for English and science classes.
As board members constructed this new set of requirements and recommendations, they aimed to sculpt needed skills for students hoping to pursue the workforce after graduation.
According to Perry Township Director of Secondary Education Brian Knight, this diploma creates flexibility for students who may not be college bound. Students who are not inclined to college will no longer be required to follow certain prerequisites but rather find classes that foster a greater knowledge of their hopeful field of study.
While this revamped diploma comes with many benefits, it may cause self-motivated students to conform to a more standard version of learning, rather than branching out to courses that will challenge them for the greater good.
It sets lower expectations for students hoping to challenge themselves and limits the possibility of growth.
Sometimes, prompting students to enroll in more challenging courses results in students feeling discouraged and inclined to give up. Yet, these setbacks push students to take initiative, familiarize themselves with their learning style and build a habit of problem-solving when they face academic obstacles.
Facing hurdles and setbacks as students is essential to character development and personal growth and sometimes might lead them into unexpected passions.
Students may walk into a class with zero interest and end up falling in love with it at the end of the day. Challenging students to take classes outside of their comfort zone, not just within it, exposes them to a wider variety of possibilities for their future.