Changes to Kansas high school diploma requirements are wise moves for graduates' futures
It’s official. There are new requirements to earn a high school diploma in Kansas starting in 2027.
The Topeka Capital-Journal’s Rafael Garcia reports after more than a year of discussions, the Kansas State Board of Education approved a new set of graduation requirements that students will need to meet before being granted a diploma. The board requires students to earn a minimum of 21 units though many local school boards require more.
Among those units, students must now earn at least 1 unit of a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math elective, which can include computer science, advanced math and science, robotics, technology and agriculture; and at least 0.5 units of a financial literacy class. The board also voted to keep the minimum 1 unit of fine arts which was added in the early 2000s.
We think these are good changes.
More:New graduation requirements coming to Kansas high schools; life skills credit falls short
Adding financial literacy and STEM classes help students become better prepared adults. Exposing children to the arts makes them more well-rounded citizens.
How many times have we seen or heard or friends and peers say they wish they would have learned what to do with their finances in high school? High school is the perfect time to learn about how a loan works, when and how to open a savings account, and possibly how to file a simple tax return.
How many of our friends have said they wished high school taught them more life skills like this instead of algebra?
We’re also ensuring that students have an opportunity to be exposed to music and art. Creativity helps build innovation. Kansas will always need innovative thinkers.
Here we are doing that. We are planting seeds that will later benefit our citizenry. These students will be our future leaders, workers, doctors, teachers, builders and bankers. We must never lose sight of that. We should always be striving to better our children’s education. Education is something that can never be taken away, no matter your circumstances. It lasts a lifetime.
We applaud the board for these forthright actions. But we need to build on that.
We hope the Kansas Legislature will also be supportive. Providing more than adequate funding to our schools. We hope our local communities continue to support our children’s education by staying active, providing help when asked and supporting our teachers.
We hope parents stay involved and interested in their children’s education.
This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Changes to Kansas high school diploma requirements are wise moves
