Graduation to Require More Credits
    By Myrtleann Anderson, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, May 1, 2008

At the March Monahans-Wicket-Pyote ISD Board meeting, Monahans High School Principal Kellye Riley discussed changing the amount of required credits needed for students to graduate.

She said the Legislature passed a law in 2006-2007 requiring all students beginning with the incoming freshmen class, to have four years of both math and science, along with the mandatory four years of English and social studies.

"That creates a problem with the number of credits students need to graduate," Riley said.  "They will have more credits with the added classes, and some students will be eligible to graduate at the end of their junior year if we don't make some changes."

"Some students might be ready to graduate, but others aren't mature enough to graduate that early," she added.  "We will have to increase the necessary credits for seniors from 24 to 28, beginning with the 2007-2008 freshman class."

At the April board meeting, the Trustees voted to make changes in the amount of credits needed for graduation.

Previously, students at Monahans High School had a choice of three graduation plans with different credits required for each program.

The Minimum Program required 22 credits, Recommended Program, 26 credits and Advanced/Distinguished Achievement Program, 28 credits.

All three programs will now require students to pass the TAKS and a minimum of 28 credits to graduate.  That includes students who entered ninth grade in the 2007-2008 school year and thereafter.

The District now requires completion of six additional credits over those required by the state for graduation under the Minimum Program.  The additional credits shall be electives.

The Recommended Program now requires an additional two credits for graduation, and those credits shall also be electives.

The Advanced Distinguished Achievement Program requires no additional credits for graduation beyond those mandated by the state.

Students will be allowed to substitute certain physical activities for the 1.5 required credits for physical education, such as marching band during the fall, and athletics.

Keyed by Heather Schulz, Senior '08