Following four years of work and lengthy discussion on the need for better prepared high school graduates, the State Board of Education adopted new criteria for a standard high school diploma on Thursday. The requirements were increased from 22.5 credits to 23, adding two credits to demonstrate college or career readiness while reducing elective courses from 7.5 to 6 credits. The changes will take effect beginning with Nevada’s class of 2022, or next year’s freshmen. The change in the diploma reflects a change in need — board Vice President Mark Newburn noted that far fewer jobs require only a high school diploma or less today than was the case in the 1970s.