The West Virginia Department of Education is in the process of implementing proposed changes to Policy 2510 and Bridgeport High School Principal Mark DeFazio has some concerns. Though the comment period is officially over, interested parents and citizens can make their concerns known by writing the WVDOE or West Virginia legislators, DeFazio said.

 

There are several proposals included in the proposed update, but a few stand out; the most dramatic being reduced graduation requirements, he said.

 

“They’re wanting to reduce graduation requirements to 21 credits,” DeFazio said, adding that the present requirement is 24 and Bridgeport High School’s is 28 due to block scheduling and the opportunity to earn as many as 32 credits.

 

Also of concern is the proposal of reducing social studies requirements and offering substitutes for physical education requirements.

 

“They are reducing social studies from four to three credits. the only courses you would be required to take would be U.S. history and civics,” DeFazio said. “And then if you take show choir or dance class, you can possibly fulfill physical education requirements.”

 

DeFazio said he believes the Department of Education is more concerned with numbers as far as graduation rate goes, but he and his faculty are more concerned with quality education.

 

“I don’t know why they want to water it down. It seems to me we continue to want to make things easier for our students to graduate, putting all kinds of things in this policy that sound good,” he said. “But, I, for one believe kids should be in high school for four years. I don’t think they should be able to get attendance exception and only go three or three and a half years.”

 

DeFazio said he may be old school, but he believes there is plenty of time to be an adult – go to college and work – and he believes that implement changes such as the aforementioned ones is sending the wrong message to our students.

 

“I think the focus of high school should be not just academics, but extracurricular; some fun for our students,” he said. “I think we have to put everything into perspective and I think we try to push our kids out the door too quickly.”

 

Finishing high school in less than four years can, for some students, mean entering college too early.

 

“Though some may be ready academically, they aren’t emotionally,” DeFazio said. “I worry about those kids who aren’t mature enough to handle it.”

 

Click HERE to download Policy 2510 - "Assuring the Quality of Education: Regulations for Education Programs."

 

The State Department of Education will vote on these and other changes at its January meeting. Writing members or West Virginia legislators about concerns can certainly not hurt, DeFazio said.