Deming Public Schools officials described planned changes to the Early College High School graduation requirements to conform with recent updates in New Mexico law and the district's dual-credit programming.

The district intends to reduce the district'level graduation-credit requirement for Early College from 26 credits to the state standard of 24 credits and to update course descriptions to match House Bill 171. Changes include renaming and restructuring math classes as integrated courses that combine geometry and algebra, retaining Algebra II as the typical pathway for college preparation, and treating college composition courses as acceptable substitutions for the fourth English credit.

Nut graf: The district said the adjustments will align local credit requirements with New Mexico Public Education Department standards while preserving the program's dual-credit focus and pathways to associate degrees.

Assistant Superintendent/Presenter Adam Simpson (identified in the meeting as Mr. Simpson) explained that Early College students commonly take college English to satisfy the fourth language-arts credit and that the math sequence will be reframed to "Integrated 1" and "Integrated 2" so geometry and algebra content are included. He said the school will continue to encourage Algebra II because it prepares students for SAT/ACT and college algebra.

Simpson and staff also outlined a two-unit elective pathway that Early College will set by board action; the district recommends those two units be two dual-credit general-education classes that apply toward an associate degree or two AVID units (Advancement Via Individual Determination), a college- and career-readiness course already in use at the school. He said the board would formally approve which two units satisfy the pathway requirement.

District materials shared with the board include a crosswalk showing how specific college courses substitute for high-school requirements (for example, how college composition covers Language Arts 3/4 content) and a sample four-year plan that sequences core high-school courses in the first two years and college courses in years three and four. Simpson pointed to a cybersecurity dual-credit pathway with Central New Mexico Community College as an example that can yield a postsecondary certificate and job opportunities in New Mexico.

Board members asked clarifying questions about AVID, program outcomes and graduation-to-college enrollment rates. Simpson said AVID is a college-preparation curriculum targeted to first-generation college students and that Early College is in its third year; he reported the district is tracking college enrollment after graduation and noted that improving first-year college persistence remains a priority.

Ending: The board received the presentation and had no formal vote on the curriculum changes during the meeting; staff said they would return with required documents and a resolution when the board'level approvals are ready.