High school grad reform heads to House

SANTA FE -- The state House of Representatives on Thursday passed high school graduation reform legislation, known as House Bill 171, sending the measure to the Senate side of the Roundhouse.

While keeping the total number of units students would need to graduate at 24, HB 171 would afford high schoolers more choice in the classes they take, said bill sponsor Rep. G. Andrés Romero, D-Albuquerque.

"We're at a time when our attendance is very low amongst our students," he said. "We need a way to engage them, and the way to engage them is to give them options, to give them choices, and let them in a controlled way guide their future and their interests."

The bill has faced some criticism on its way through the Roundhouse, with some arguing the bill should require all students to take a financial literacy course.

That argument played out on the House floor Thursday.

"I must say I am very disappointed that this bill does not specify a one-half unit in personal financial literacy that would be a requirement for high school graduation," said Rep. Cathrynn Brown, R-Carlsbad, who has sponsored a separate bill that would have such a requirement. "... I think this material is especially important for students from low-income families."

While HB 171 allows students to take financial literacy in multiple categories, some have said the course needs to be its own, standalone requirement.

After about 40 minutes of discussions on the bill, HB 171 ultimately passed on a 57-1 vote.