The committee also discussed the State Board's responsibility as it relates to benchmarks. Committee members asked for a decision document on the legal requirements to clarify the State Board's exit exam and benchmark duties. Board members recommended some changes to the draft. At some time in the future, board members will receive a corporation-wide Freeway School petition from the Gary Community Schools. Mr. Zaring reported that final approval of the curriculum rule changes has not yet occurred.
Schools are interested in awarding high school credit prior to the time students enter ninth grade.
Since the board, in adopting the rule changes, has gone on record stating this should be a local decision, the Department will issue non-standard program approval to schools that want to implement a program before the rule changes take effect. The meeting will reconvene following the business meeting on October 3, 1996.