For many high school students, electives like band, theater or psychology are some of the most exciting parts of their schedules. But two bills being debated in the Missouri legislature could change what classes students are required to take before graduating, limiting other courses they will have room for in their schedule.
Missouri graduates may soon need to pass Driver’s Education and participate in 60 minutes of daily physical activity at school to earn their diplomas under the pending legislation. If passed, the bills could add new graduation requirements for public school students across Missouri, potentially changing how schools schedule classes and how much room students have for electives. Counselor Mallory Parra said the added requirements could limit students’ choices.
“Students already need 26 credits to graduate,” Parra said. “To add on another requirement, it’s going to limit other options somewhere else.”
House Bill 2195 would require all public school students to take a Drivers Education course. More than 37 states already require driver’s education, and according to 911 Driving School, teen car accident deaths are generally lower in states with mandatory programs.
“I think it’s good for all kids to learn through driver’s school,” sophomore Ava Laborada said. “Especially with all the accidents that happen in the parking lot.”
Laborada took driving lessons from a Liberty School District Driver’s Education teacher. Liberty Public Schools offers paid driving lessons. Rep. Rodger Reedy, R-Windsor, sponsor of the bill told The Missouri Independent that the bill would be implemented in courses students already take at school and would not have a fee.
“Anytime we have better-educated drivers, I think we are a safer community,” Reedy told the paper.
Another proposed bill, HB278, would require students to participate in at least 60 minutes of physical education per day. A public hearing is scheduled for April 14 on the legislation introduced by Rep. Bishop Davidson, R-Republic. There would be no exemption for athletes, and lawmakers supporting the bill think increasing physical activity during the school day would improve health and help them focus better in class.
“The reason for sponsoring this bill is actually many. It’s just generally looking around our society and seeing that learning outcomes are falling, it’s seeing that behavioral issues are rising, it’s seeing that mental health issues and problems amongst our youth especially are rising,” Davidson told KOMU-TV. “This physical activity on a daily basis has a lot of data behind it to show that it can address all three of those things at the exact same time.”
Parra said required courses could replace elective classes many students use to explore future career interests.
“They would just take the place of another elective like band, choir, theater, debate, psychology — those kinds of things,” Parra said
If passed, the changes could affect students who do off-campus programs.
“It definitely puts barriers in for students that are trying to seek off-campus programs or other opportunities,” assistant principal James Wheeler, Ed.D., said.
Both bills are still being debated in the Missouri legislature. If passed, the proposals could reshape the schedules for thousands of Missouri students by changing graduation requirements and reducing room for electives.
