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School board approves more math, science in new HS requirements
By DOUG GROSS - Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA --Students will take more math and science and no longer choose between an emphasis on college-prep or job skills under new graduation requirements approved by the state Board of Education on Thursday.

Education officials say the new guidelines, which will go into effect for freshmen starting next year, are geared toward giving all students a strong grounding in core areas like reading and math while offering them flexibility in choosing elective classes.

"We are no longer setting high expectations for just some students," state school Superintendent Kathy Cox said. "As a state, we are saying that all students can learn at a high level."

The changes do away with Georgia's four-tiered graduation plan with two agendas for students hoping to attend college and two for those focusing on job skills.

All students will take four years of math and science. Now, all students are required to take a minimum of three years of science and students on vocational tracks may take only three years of math.

The plan also gives students more choice over which computer, fine arts and foreign language classes they take.

They'll choose a total of three units from those three areas. Currently, students must take two foreign language classes and one more from either computers, fine arts or foreign language.

Students planning to attend a University System of Georgia school will be informed that they need to take at least two units of the same foreign language.

"Regardless of what students are going to do after high school, they must have a strong core of classes in mathematics, English, social studies and science," Cox said. "Then, they can use their electives to personalize their education."

The school board approved the new requirements unanimously.

Critics of the plan have argued that upping math and science requirements for students not planning to attend college will hurt Georgia's already lagging graduation rate.

Georgia ranks next to last among Southern states in the percentage of ninth graders who graduate in four years at 61 percent. That's well below the national average of 75 percent, according to the Southern Regional Education Board.

Cox and board members say raising standards for all students will make them work harder and perform better.

Others, including some teachers, say they fear that decreasing the number of required foreign language courses will hurt students hoping for jobs in a global economy in which language skills are increasingly important.

Department of Education spokesman Dana Tofig said new approaches to teaching foreign languages are being considered, including increasing the amount taught in elementary and middle school.

A task force studying foreign language education is expected to make recommendations to the state board in the next few months, Tofig said.
 

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