Graduation Requirements May Change in Hatboro-Horsham

The courses and educational requirements of Hatboro-Horsham High School freshman–and future high school students–could shift under new state regulations.

Currently, Hatboro-Horsham students must complete a minimum of 29 credits, as well as a graduation project in order to receive a diploma. However, state regulations set to take effect during the 2016-2017 school year would no longer require completion of a graduation project, and credits needed to graduate could be scaled back to 26, according to Hatboro-Horsham Superintendent Curtis Griffin. 

During a presentation last fall aimed at considering a reduction of graduation credits, officials said Hatboro-Horsham ranked fourth-highest out of 22 Montgomery County school districts in terms of credits seniors needed to graduate. Most schools set credits at 25 or 26, Griffin said.

Even with higher-than-average requirements, Griffin said many Hatboro-Horsham students complete more than the minimum amount of course work. 

"We have students today who are graduating with 30 credits or more of their choosing," Griffin said. "We look at this as a way to help push the bottom up."

But, what if the state does not require that extra push? Should Hatboro-Horsham continue to keep its graduation requirements high? Tell us in the comments. 

Board member Barbara LaSorsa, following Griffin's presentation during this week's school board work session, expressed concern at the possibility of cutting graduation requirements. 

"We may have a different philosophy," LaSorsa said. "That worries me that we’re going to be lowering our standards."

But, Griffin said the state only sets minimums and leaves the maximums up to each district. 

"We can offer more. That’s up to us," Griffin said. "This is the minimum. I would never recommend the minimum. I would recommend above and beyond."

The district has time to decide how many credits should be required for graduation. Griffin said districts are required to adopt new graduation requirements within six months of the effective date of the state's new chapter 4 regulations.

Besides graduation credits, the state, beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, is placing more emphasis on overall student achievement. Instead of requiring graduates be proficient in reading, writing and math, the new regulations call for proficiency in English language arts, science, biology and algebra I. 

Students must also be proficient on Keystone Exams, which are end-of-course tests designed to measure student proficiency in various subjects, according to the state's Web site.

"We have a responsibility," Griffin said. "If they’re not proficient, we must remediate."