Canyons might offer advanced diplomas

Canyons School District Superintendent David Doty's high school junior needs only five credits to graduate.

"I want work release next year," she informed her father.

Doty's answer: "No, darling. You're going to take another math class."

The 44-year-old superintendent would like all the students in the Canyons School District to do the same.

Doty's pushing a proposal to offer advanced high school diplomas, requiring more math, science, English and foreign language credits. The diploma would be the first of its kind at a Utah public school. Increased academic rigor, he said, is the road to turning out more college-ready graduates. Some, though, worry such English- and math-packed schedules will conflict with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' released-time seminary instruction and spell doom for already struggling arts programs.

If the proposal is approved, Canyons School District will offer three different diplomas: an 18-credit basic diploma; a 20-credit advanced diploma, which requires advanced math and two credits of foreign language; and a 22-credit "Apex" diploma, which would put students on track to qualify for the state-funded Regent Scholarship. Doty hopes the diploma will eventually result in better college placement for students who earn "advanced" and Apex diplomas.

At 18 credits, Utah's graduation requirements are among the nation's lowest.

"It's great to talk about making our kids competitive with kids in India, China and Finland, but we've got to start by getting them on par with the kids right next door," Doty said.

The district's plan, though, leaves students on the most advanced program with 10 credits of wiggle room for extracurricular activities like seminary, sports, music and art. If ninth grade is included in high school, which Doty has also proposed, that's roughly two classes a year.

Because of higher academic expectations, Doty expects fewer teens will sign up for released-time seminary, a program that allows children to use one class period for off-campus religious instruction. He's also confident that the LDS Church, which has been vocal about its support of education, will be "willing to adapt," he said.

Although the majority of Utah's 84,433 LDS seminary students take classes during school hours, the church also offers seminary classes before school.