Horizon school board updates high school credit policy

Children often learn best at their own pace, and now they can move through high school at their own pace as well.

Horizon School Division decided to remove a policy governing the rate at which children must earn credits through high school at their regular meeting on Feb. 25. The policy was deemed outdated for today’s model, which sees high school education taking on a more fluid environment for children to learn in.

“That policy used to talk about the number of courses students were supposed to take each year,” said school superintendent Wilco Tymensen. “Really, it doesn’t align with the new vision of education.”

The regulation, titled “Assignment of High School Courses,” originally stated children from Grades 10 to 12 must complete a minimum of 35 credits every year. Exceptions to this police included students entering Grade 12 who had 75 to 79 credits, who would be required to earn only 30 credits, or those with 80 credits who needed only 25 credits.

“It was a policy from 1985 or so,” said Tymensen. “You’ve got students who are struggling with issues and who are going to outreach school; they might be only making 10 credits per year.”

“You have students as well who are very motivated,” he added. “They might earn 50 credits in Grade 10, then suddenly they’re working part-time in Grades 11 and 12, and they’re only making 25 each year.”

Tymensen said an important issue for the policy was how students who made less than the required amount of credits per year but who were still making their 105 credits would be unable to participate in graduation ceremonies because their behaviour didn’t align with the policy.

“We just decided to get rid of (the policy) altogether,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how you graduate. You just need to get those credits.”

“It doesn’t matter when you get them or how fast you get them,” he added.

Following discussion, the board decided to eliminate the policy.

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