Class of 2025 required to take more math, less foreign language classes to graduate

OKLAHOMA CITY — This year’s graduating high school seniors got a break.

That’s because next year’s class will have to take more math classes to earn their diplomas. It’s one of several changes in state graduation standards that were just put in place, and districts across Green Country are already making plans to start implementing the changes.

The bill signed by Governor Kevin Stitt, adds on one more math requirement for high schoolers.  The changes take effect this summer in time for next school year.

"The beauty of this bill is that they're not forced to take a course, they can choose what is relevant to them," said State Representative Rhonda Baker (R-Yukon).

The new graduation requirements is from a collaboration of education and workforce groups over the last two years. The aim is to let students hone in on what interests them while also making sure they meet minimum education standards and benchmarks. The interest-focused path is meant for students who do not wish to go to college after high school, but those who want to take up trades, go to career tech schools, and junior colleges that don't require foreign language lessons to enter.

"We want to make sure that when kids leave our K-12 system, they are better prepared than they have been," Baker said.

Students who wish to go to a college or a university, especially one with NCAA athletics, will still have to take two years of foreign language instruction as a part of the admissions process, but they will fulfill that requirement by taking it as an elective.

"After all of the studies that we've done, we know that employers need much more of an understanding of math than anything," Baker said on the House floor earlier this month before the bill received final passage and approval with some bipartisan support.

The bill also hopes to address the number of students needing remedial course work at the college and university level that has increased in recent years. Remedial coursework must be paid for by tuition, but it does not count for credit towards a degree.

Opponents of the changes said students need a good general education of all topics, and some children may make a choice early on that puts themselves on a career path they no longer want later. When they do, they will have to back track or attempt to make up for lost time, especially if they are close to graduation.

"If we do this focused attempt, we may find that kids will find that this is not the true path for them" said State Representative Trish Ranson (D-Stillwater).

Ranson said it is possible some districts will have no interest in foreign language programs or certain fine arts activities, and small rural districts will eliminate programs they currently offer to save money.

"If one student wants a foreign language class, they might be told just go on Babbel for that, and I don't think that is good enough," Ranson said about alternatives for foreign language education outside of what is being offered now statewide.

Ranson said common education means everyone is learning the same common things so we can move forward as a society. She and others who voted no on the bill said education is about enriching the whole person, even in topics they don't want, not strictly workforce development.

FOX23 reached out to multiple large districts in the Tulsa metro to get their thoughts on how they are preparing for the new change. Many said there are already planning meetings and discussions in place about things that will happen this summer to prepare for the new path, but some did not have specifics.

Bixby Public Schools Superintendent Rob Miller told FOX23 there is some grace for local districts when it comes to making the switch, and BPS will be sending out surveys in the summer to help students better realign the learning path they wish to take starting as early as next fall.

He said no foreign language teachers will lose their jobs because of this shift, especially because colleges and universities across the country still require foreign language instruction for admission. He believed many students will still need the instruction even if they don't personally want it because of their post-high school plans.

In a statement, Bixby Public Schools said they were excited about the changes:

"Bixby Public Schools fully supports the recent legislation updating Oklahoma's graduation requirements. As always, our mission is to ignite the potential of every student. With immediate implementation as our plan, we are committed to working closely with our teaching and learning team and our Board of Education to assess the implications for current students while determining the best pathways moving forward. We are excited by the increased autonomy and opportunities these changes will provide as we support students in their individual post-secondary journey."

Union Public Schools released a statement to FOX23 stating:

“Union has been assured by legislators that there will be some flexibility in how the math requirement is implemented. One of our greatest concerns is the shortage of math teachers in Oklahoma.  Regardless, we will make adjustments to ensure students have what they need to graduate and be college and career-ready.”

Broken Arrow Public Schools also released a statement to FOX23 about the changes:

"...We appreciate the flexibility for students to enroll in classes that will prepare them for their post-secondary goals. Yes, it does remove the world language requirement, but many of our students will continue to take a world language because it aligns with their chosen career path. At BA, we historically have more students wanting to enroll in a world language elective than we have teachers for the subject. Based on that data, we believe those courses will continue to be in demand. The teachers in our World Languages Department do a fantastic job of informing students of all the career pathways that benefit from a second language – business, education, IT and the medical field just to name a few – and the students who have already begun world language coursework will be able to use the course for a pathway elective. Going into next year, no teachers will be cut, and the courses will still be offered for students who are interested in enrolling in that elective. We’ll track the enrollment data and adjust as needed in the years to come."

During debate on the new requirements, state lawmakers acknowledged a severe math teacher shortage in the state could be exacerbated by the new standards, but they said changes to certain community college and career tech teaching programs will help fill some of the gap with new personnel ready to teach new classes.

Twenty-three states currently do not require a foreign language to receive a high school diploma.

In a separate bill, the State of Oklahoma will also require students to take one semester of financial literacy to show them how to save for retirement, pay their bills, housing and mortgage costs, banking, and how basic personal finances work. The class must be taken as a requirement for graduation. That bill takes effect for the 2025-2026 school year.