Parents Fight for Change in Graduation Requirements

Petition aims to make certain requirements recommendations instead

The San Diego Unified School District changed their stance on graduation requirements after hundreds of parents petitioned for change.

At issue during Tuesday's meeting was whether students should be required to take two years of Career Technical Education (CTE) classes in order to graduate. The parents in attendance wanted the district to make these classes a recommendation instead of a requirement.

Boardmembers voted to rescind the mandate that all students would have to take the CTE classes.

The CTE classes are intended to prepare the students for technical careers. The classes would have been required in addition to those which make them eligible for college.

Among the CTE classes is a civil engineering and architechture class, which gets students interested in careers before college, or gives them job skills if they decide not to go to college, said the class's teacher Tim Bingham.

"[The class] gives an opportunity to students who may not have the opportunity to go to college directly from high school, gives them an opportunity to go into a skill related trade," Bingham said.

Yet some parents say this hinders the success of college-bound students.

""For kids who want to go to college, this takes two courses away from them, to be able to take a weighted course, an extra Advanced Placement course or an honors course, or just even another part of their major," said parent Debbie O'Toole.

She added that CTE classes are important but they should just be recommended.

Parents presented a petition to the board with more than 1,000 signatures, asking the board to take a step back. They hope the board will vote tonight to change the graduation requirement to take CTE classes from a mandate to a recommendation.

Follow NBCSanDiego for the latest news, weather, and events: iPhone App | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Instagram | RSS | Text Alerts | Email Alerts

Contact Us