MONTGOMERY, Alabama (WIAT) — On Thursday, the Alabama State Board of Education expressed support for new graduation requirements that will affect 2028 classes.

Today, Alabama students are ill-prepared for life after high school. His graduation rate last year was 92%, while his college and career readiness rate was 76%.

Gov. Kay Ivey hopes this plan will change that.

“This is about bridging the opportunity gap by making sure students are ready to take the next step,” Ivey told the board.

The proposed requirements require students to complete at least one of several options that demonstrate college or career readiness.

Options include scoring at least 3 points on the AP test, completing your apprenticeship, or being accepted into the military.

Other requirements are:

• Achieve a benchmark score in any subject on the ACT College Admissions
• Score 4 or above on the International Baccalaureate Examination
• Earn college credits while in high school
• Earn a Silver or Gold level on the ACT WorkKeys exam
• Earn a tech industry career credential listed in the Alabama Committee on Credentialing and Career Pathways’ valuable compendium of credentials
• Acquisition of vocational/technical education graduates
• Additional College and Career Readiness Metrics Approved by State Boards of Education

Some Board members expressed concern that students in struggling districts do not have the resources to do things such as attend technical education programs and AP classes.

District 5 Director Tonya Chestnut worries that these requirements are preventing some students from fully graduating.

“If you mandate requirements for all students, you have to have some kind of plan in place to ensure that students have a similar experience,” says Chesnutt.

Superintendent Eric McKee said ensuring all students achieve these goals is a priority and that the guidelines are subject to change before they are officially implemented.

“We definitely need to move this to the 28th class, but I understand that some board members were concerned. said.

The guidelines were drafted in part by the Alabama Workforce Council and the Alabama Business Education Alliance.

Today’s vote was that the Board intends to adopt these guidelines. There is a 45-day comment period before the final vote in November.