News Brief
White: Streamline Louisiana's High School Diplomas
The Advertiser (06/11/2013) Fonte, Jean-Paul; Decker, BillSpeaking at a recent town hall meeting, Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White proposed streamlining the state's high school education to ensure students are better prepared for high-wage, high-growth jobs. First, he wants to scale down the number of high school diplomas from three to one, though the Louisiana diploma under the proposal would have two pathways for achievement: one leading to a four-year college program and another leading to technical careers. Currently, the state has Core 4, basic, and career diplomas, and White says diplomas must "mean something" to high school students. Students on a career path would receive two years of academic course work and then two years of technical skills and certifications for their chosen industries. White says, "The goal of this diploma path is graduating students with career credentials that certified them to step into the world of work immediately upon graduating. There are job sectors in our state that are clearly growing, that are clearly representing a promising wage." White would like to see the technical career track focus on skills needed in the region, which could include skills in oil and gas manufacturing, transportation logistics, health and hospitals, construction, and agriculture-timber. He hopes to finalize the plan in October with the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
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