Department of Education

 

GDForum ID: 2768

Description of Proposed Guidance Document Changes

Pursuant to House Bill 1477, (2024), the Board of Education must provide local school boards maximum flexibility to waive existing instructional clock hour requirements by developing alternative instructional time models in accordance with the Board's regulations and guidelines relating to instructional time waivers. The bill directs the Board to update its Guidelines for Graduation Requirements: Local Alternative Paths to Standard Units of Credit (Alternatives to the 140-Clock-Hour Requirement) to include guidance regarding (i) waiver pathway options to allow students time within the school day to complete work-based learning opportunities such as internships, externships, youth registered apprenticeships, clinical experiences, service learning, and other career and workforce development opportunities; (ii) advanced learning opportunities focused on problem-solving, critical thinking, creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and citizenship skills; (iii) content that provides technical knowledge, skills, and competency-based applied learning; (iv) a method for approving alternative programs, including dual enrollment courses, for which course credit may be granted for the purpose of satisfying high school graduation requirements to any student who completes such course and masters the course content by demonstrating the competencies required by course standards, regardless of time, place, or pace; (v) other instructional time models adopted to meet instructional hour requirements through a variety of learning modalities such as project-based learning, mastery-based learning, weekend courses, and evening courses to allow a student to use flexible time options to accelerate demonstration of mastery; and (vi) offering instructional and learning opportunities including innovative, advanced, and enrichment programs for the full school year.

 

Guidance Document(s) for this Comment Forum

Document ID	Document Title	Current Document	Proposed Document	Revised Proposed
7923	Guidelines for Graduation Requirements: Local Alternative Paths to Standard Units of Credit (Alternatives to the 140-Clock-Hour Requirement)	n/a	Proposed Document		Posted with original changes on 11/20/2025

 

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