The panel assigned the task of reforming the State’s high school system has issued its interim report to the State Board of Education. The Missouri High School Task Force, created to come up with ideas to improve grades as well as the overall high school experience, is leaning toward an educational overhaul. Jerry Valentine, who heads the Task Force, supports tougher graduation requirements – which include an added emphasis on the core subjects – such as math and reading. The panel is mulling over a number of other ideas, including one that would require graduation exit exams. Another is a suggestion to have differentiated diplomas listing certain courses taken and other experiences of a student. The final report will be submitted to the Board of Education in March.
