THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION IS EXPRESSING CONCERNS ABOUT NEW GRADUATION MANDATES APPROVED BY LAWMAKERS LAST WEEK.

IF SIGNED INTO LAW, THE LARGE EDUCATION BILL PASSED DURING THE LAME DUCK SESSION WILL REQUIRE HIGH SCHOOLERS TO TAKE TWO YEARS OF LABORATORY SCIENCE, A COMPUTER LITERACY COURSE AND TWO YEARS OF A FOREIGN LANGUAGE. BOARD MEMBER SUSIE MORRISON:

MORRISON SUGGESTS THEY REVIEW ALL GRADUATION MANDATES TO SEE IF ANY CHANGES NEED TO BE MADE. THE IDEA IS TO MAKE SURE STUDENTS MEET COLLEGE STANDARDS BUT BOARD MEMBER DOCTOR CHRISTINE BENSON WISHES LAWMAKERS HAD SOUGHT THE BOARD'S INPUT.

THE BOARD ALSO DISCUSSED ITS SPRING LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WHICH INCLUDES ADDRESSING TEACHER MISCONDUCT AND MAKING SURE STUDENTS THAT HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED HAVE ACCESS TO REMOTE LEARNING WHILE THEY ARE OUT OF SCHOOL.