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The Los Angeles Unified School District school board will meet today to discuss an "educational equality" policy that was designed to help all students get a fair shot at college but it could make high school graduation requirements more challenging.
Superintendent John Deasy is in favor of the policy, which was passed seven years ago, and wants it to go into effect this fall for the graduating class of 2016, according to the Daily News. The policy was designed to help disadvantaged students meet core academic requirements for admission into the Cal State and University of California college systems.
Critics argue that the policy could have an adverse effect on students who cannot meet the minimum C average required to pass and cause even more high school dropouts.
The total number of credits needed to graduate would drop from 230 units to 180 because LAUSD would drop required non-academic courses. Deasy believes that this would give students a better chance to pass their core curriculum with a C or better.
Critics say that his ambitious new plan sets the bar too high for students. Only 15 percent of last year's graduates passed the core classes with a C or better, according to KPCC.
