MVLA school district approves new graduation requirements

At a meeting on Dec. 15, the board unanimously voted to approve its updated graduation requirements. The change drops the social studies graduation requirement from 40 credits to 35 credits, reflecting the drop in the ethnic studies requirement from 10 credits to 5 credits. Elective credits are increased from 55 credits to 60 credits. Graduation requirements will remain 220 credits.

The board of trustees voted 3-2 at an Oct. 27 meeting to cut the required social studies course, beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. Support for shortening the requirement came from trustees Vadim Katz, Catherine Vonnegut and Alex Levich. Trustees Esmeralda Ortiz and Thida Cornes cast the dissenting votes.

Ethnic studies is currently a year-long course at the district that teaches students about the study of race, contributions of people of color in the United States and contemporary social movements.

“This is what the board has already voted for,” Superintendent Eric Volta said at the meeting.

District officials previously noted that the school sites may develop new offerings in social studies electives to avoid staff cuts accompanying the reduction of its ethnic studies requirement from a year to single semester.

At the Dec. 15 meeting, district staff members offered their own recommendations to bridge the drop in social studies requirements.

Dave Campbell, president of the district teachers association, presented a staff plan to recommend the requirements of one semester of ethnic studies and one semester of world studies for freshmen.

“Adopting this sequencing aligns with community feedback requesting a robust and globally focused freshman experience,” he said at the meeting. “It reduces ethnic studies to one semester in a way that minimizes disruption for students and prepares them for more rigorous coursework in their sophomore year and beyond.”

Campbell said the course coverage would follow the Holocaust, World War II and Latin American history. He said the option offered clear reliable course pathways rather than variable elective enrollment.

Nate Bowen, social studies department coordinator at Mountain View High School, said at the meeting he hoped any changes would be the least disruptive to students and teachers. He referred to the proposal as “vital.”

“It’s going to help bring my department much needed stability and a sense of normalcy,” he said of the proposal.

Volta said previously that department heads and educators at individual school sites are developing the potential social studies elective options for eventual consideration by the district.

A timeframe was not provided for board consideration of the teachers’ social studies proposal.