That's the end result of a two-day meeting the State Board of Education concluded in Vancouver yesterday.
Rules adopted by the board Thursday would require all high school students to pass algebra II (or classes that cover the same material) to graduate, starting with the class of 2013 (this year's eighth-graders). AWB's education policy expert, Donna Steward, attended the meeting, having previously provided written testimony in favor of the change. AWB believes the addition of more math will further help ready students for success in today's workplace and college.
The board also agreed -- in principle -- to increase and phase in the additional graduation credit requirements by 2016, with the caveat that it won't raise the credit count without funding from the Legislature. The new proposal, known as the Meaningful High School Diploma or "Core 24," raises the state's minimum high school gradation requirements from 19 to 24. (Most school districts already require more than the state's minimum to graduate.) The algebra II adoption is the first in a series of changes the board hopes to make, strengthening the core academic classes required of Washington's high school graduates. Additional changes under the board's Core 24 plan would:
- Add an extra credit of English (up from 3 to 4)
- Add a credit of math (up from 2 to 3)
- Add a credit of science (up from 2 to 3)
- Add a half-credit of social studies (up from 2.5 to 3)
Students would also be required to complete two credits in both art and health and fitness. The remaining seven credits needed to complete the Core 24 would depend on one of the three pathways students would select (college, career or a combination). Increasing the overall required number of credits will decrease the number of electives available to students, in an effort to increase the rigor of student schedules.
It's worth noting this change in credit requirements is the state's first since 1985. (And if you haven't checked out the Partnership for Learning's campaign on this issue, click here.) You can read more about Core 24 here, as well. AWB's Donna Steward testified in favor of the change in credits.
Media coverage of this issue is in today's Seattle Times, P-I and News Tribune/Columbian.
