Mar 12, 2014 2 min read

Pending approval of the school board, a new graduation requirement will be implemented for all Washington School District students, starting with this year’s freshman class and extending to all younger classes. The new requirement mandates all students complete at least one cybercourse before graduating.

Dr. Roberta P. DiLorenzo, school district superintendent, explained the prerequisite will help Washington students prepare for education after high school.

“Whether going to college or a trade school, cybercourses have become a postsecondary requirement,” she said. “We want to have our students working toward that.”

While no decision was officially made as to what subject the course will cover, DiLorenzo said it will probably be a general education class.

“We’re looking at having the first course be a personal finance course,” DiLorenzo said. “We wanted to have a practical course that would benefit all students.”

Because the district already has an agreement in place for the cyber courses, there will be no extra cost to the district or students for the new requirement. The district has offered cyber courses since the 2010-11 school year and currently has 77 students enrolled in at least one cyber course, with 22 full-time cyberstudents.

While the courses are contracted through Seneca Valley School District, Washington uses its own teachers to oversee the online classes and monitor students.

“We’ve been using this method to educate, remediate and advance students for years,” DiLorenzo said. “It’s been very successful.”

The school board is expected to vote on the issue by the end of April.