Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants Chicago public high school students to show they have a plan for what's next before they can get a diploma. "Just like you do with your children, college, post-high school, that is what's expected," Emanuel said at a Wednesday morning news conference. Emanuel and CPS Chief Education Officer Janice Jackson, who was also at the news conference, said the district already has graduation requirements that are above the state standards, and that as long as CPS meets the state minimum graduation requirements, it is legal to add things on top of that. Emanuel also said CPS would work with students to make sure they’re aware of available scholarships and other resources to help them after high school. Starting with the current freshman class, in order to receive their high school diploma, all CPS students would have to show an acceptance letter to a four-year university, a community college, a trade school or apprenticeship, an internship, or a branch of the armed services. “We already have around 62 percent of our kids are already either accepted into college or accepted into community college, and our goal is to make sure nobody spikes the ball at 12th grade.
– Don't have a plan after high school? Don't expect a diploma, says Rahm Emanuel. Under a new proposal from the Chicago mayor, high school students of Chicago Public Schools will need to prove they have a plan for their immediate future before they can graduate, reports the Chicago Tribune. To fulfill the graduation requirement, students of the Class of 2020 and beyond will need to show they have a job offer, or are entering university, community college, a trade program, the military, or another educational program. The goal is to prepare students for a challenging job market, Emanuel tells CBS Chicago. "A [high school] diploma alone isn't enough anymore," says CPS Chief Education Officer Janice Jackson. Emanuel notes all high school graduates in Chicago are automatically accepted at city colleges, so no student will be left without an option. But critics say the rule could force undecided students to rush into a decision, or harm students living in poverty, per Quartz. Some say it may also require more high school counselors and additional funding for local community colleges, which are struggling financially. Others question if it's even legal for CPS to weigh in on students' choices. "I've been doing this for 20 years and I've never heard of anything like that," says an education policy expert. "The question I would have for Mayor Emanuel is: 'Where did this come from? What informed your thinking to lead you to believe that this was a good plan of action for CPS?'" Jackson, however, says the Illinois State Board of Education only requires that schools meet the state's minimum graduation requirements, and that schools can individually adopt other requirements that don't need approval from the board.