Graduating high school in Georgia just got complicated, and graduating high school with a HOPE scholarship got even more complicated than that.

Beginning this year, the state is requiring every eighth grader to complete a high school graduation plan at the end of the school year and select a career pathway to study throughout high school.

And if they want to qualify for a HOPE scholarship when they graduate, they’re going to have to meet new academic rigor requirements by taking Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or dual enrollment college courses. The changes are part of the state’s new College and Career Readiness Initiative.

“The changes are designed to produce a more competitive student as well as get students to start thinking about life after high school,” said Savannah-Chatham Public Schools Executive Director of School Governance Aretha Rhone-Bush.

Career Pathways

To shift student focus toward career preparation, elementary schools are required to provide career awareness programs to expose students to various careers and the type of education and training they require.

Middle school students will participate in job shadowing and the career explorer post program.

At the end of the eighth grade they will have to choose one of 17 career pathways they want to pur…………… continues on McDuffie Mirror