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TRENTON - The New Jersey Board of Education on Wednesday approved an overhaul of high school graduation requirements that will place all students in algebra, geometry and lab science courses.

The more specific course requirements are a major step in the state's secondary education reform project to prepare all students to compete in a global economy.

"These are not just words on paper," Education Commissioner Lucille Davy said. "We have to create opportunities for all children to succeed."

Christopher Emigholz, of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, said the association supports the changes.

"The No. 1 item for business is the quality of the work force," he said. "And businesses do have trouble finding people with a comprehensive set of skills."

Many school districts may already be meeting the new standards. Still, there are concerns about what will be included in the newly required courses, and how they will link to proposed national standards.

"We will have to watch the process," said Judy Savage, director of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational Schools. "This does put more flexibility into the third year of math and science, but there are still a lot of questions about how it will be implemented and how it might affect students in vocational programs."

The requirements will be phased in over four years. The freshman class of 2008-2009 will have to take algebra I and lab biology.

The incoming freshmen class in 2010-2011 also will be required to take geometry, a choice of chemistry, physics or environmental science and a half-year of economics and financial literacy.

The freshmen class of 2012-2013 will take a third year of math that builds on the previous two courses and a third lab or technical science course.

The current requirements are three years of math and three years of science, but are not course-specific.

The state did back down from a recommendation to require algebra II, which many in the math field had opposed, saying it was not necessary for every student and could result in a watered-down curriculum.

Rowan University math professor Eric Milou called the removal of algebra II a huge win, but said the trickier issue is deciding what will be included in the third year of math and how the national standards will affect the state model.

Davy said the state will work with districts on training teachers for the new courses. She said there will be federal money available to help cover costs.

The state school board on Wednesday also adopted a temporary new alternative test for students who fail the current high school test. The new process is shorter and will be graded by a regional panel of teachers rather than the local district.

The state plans to phase out the current high school testing system over the next several years and replace it with a series of tests at the end of courses. The Department of Education is currently running practice tests of biology, algebra I and algebra II, but they are not yet required for graduation.

The board also approved updated K-12 standards in science, technology, the arts, health and physical education, world languages, and 21st century life and careers. New preschool standards are now linked to the K-12 standards.

The DOE also is beginning a pilot project to develop Personalized Learning Plans for all students in grades six through 12. Sixteen schools will participate to develop plans for sixth- and ninth-graders in 2009-2010.

Davy said gains already made by younger students make her optimistic that all students will be able to meet the new high school requirements.

"Students in the elementary grades now are doing better than years ago," she said. "We have raised the bar, but they will be prepared. I reject the notion that there are students for whom this is not attainable."

E-mail Diane D'Amico:

DDamico@pressofac.com

7 comments:

• temple73 (1) posts 11:56 pm

  A few observations about the new requirements. First let me state that I am not anti-education. I graduated from Temple U, my daughter from Colgate and I have worked in education for 20 years. I know many of the people in Trenton who sit in offices and think up all these great ideas. Most of them were teachers who quickly realized that teaching was very hard so they hurried to get their administrative degrees and get away from having to deal with kids. That said, let's look at our student population. While they may be a bit less respectful and not always well mannered, they are really no different from those of us who roamed the halls in the 50's and 60's. The average IQ of the population is 100 and can be graphed on to a bell curve. I doubt that has changed much in the last 50 years. We have very bright students who master all that is thrown at them. We have bright students who master most of it. The majority of students are average. Many work hard, realize their talents and go on to have very successful careers. But there are also students who lack the mental capacity to understand the advanced concepts of algebra and geometry. Do we offer them a level of math that they can master and use throughout their lives? No more. We put them in classes where they feel stupid and then wonder why they misbehave. And then to add insult to injury, we put them in a required foreign language class instead of the remedial english they need. So before you go blaming parents for every child who does not succeed, please be aware that the system being created by Trenton is ensuring that there will be an increase in behavior problems and drop-out rates. Any good teacher knows that you have to reach back to where the child is and help them achieve their full potential. Where you start and where each child ends is not identical for everyone. Unfortunately, good teachers don't run Trenton.

• Jamesy (67) posts 1:03 pm

  Re: Supreme...you've pretty much reiterated what I've already said...in addition what does speaking English have to do with math and science scores for ethnic children and how will that crush my son's scores?...you fail to realize the diverse uneducated work force in Atlantic County i.e. the casino's and the parents of these children are the problem...they are not nor are they willing to help themselves or their children. Also the teachers union in Atlantic County sports some of the lowest tested teachers in the country and NJ itself...I suggest you do your home work before you spout off...yes there are kids from schools in Atlantic County going to Ivy league schools...but that's one or two from each school in Atlantic County...Ivy students come from all states just like Notre Dame. You obviously are clueless...I lived at the Shore in Atlantic County for 12 years and I can tell you people are leaving in droves for this reason...not to mention the mentality of state and local government...its over for the casino's...and that means its over for any ethnic child in the schools as well...not to mention local born and raised kids too. I'll take my chances here in the Midwest and my son going to the likes of Michigan Michigan State ... Purdue... Notre Dame Northwestern...Ohio State or Indiana. Instead of Cape May Community College or Stockton and a carreer as a line cook at the Hilton...or a hoagie maker at Wawa...LOL! "Good Luck"

• Supreme (11) posts 12:09 pm

  Hey Jamesy, once those kids learn to speak English, they will crush your kid's math and science scores. The bar should be raised. Education gives kids options. The problem is not the schools. There are kids going to Ivy league schools from all of our local high schools. The problem is in the homes. If more emphasis was placed on academics and less on media driven nonsense our children would be better off. The parents need to stop rewarding kids with Jordans for Payless grades.

• Jamesy (67) posts 11:01 am

  Re: Voices...you are right there..."plenty that won't go on to college"...in Atlantic County less than 10 percent go to college...that speaks volumes of the kids thier parents,teachers and admins mentality. They all leave much to be desired...anyone visiting the area can see that...so work in the casino's and gain the union mentality with no education...things are looking rosy in that industry...LOL! As they say there "Good Luck"..LOL!

• Voices (13) posts 8:27 am

  The state should concentrate on more basic math and less HIGHER MATH/SCIENCE. Those kinds of classes are fine for those going onto college, but if your not and there are plenty who won't, making them take those kinds of classes are a waste of time. Since taking them in High School and college, I have used them exactly this much...NEVER. The state has to realize what is useful and what isn't and requiring these kinds of courses isn't what should be offered.

• Jamesy (67) posts 7:44 am

  this is why we left NJ four years ago...we didn't want our son starting school in a state and county with poor schools and test scores...not to mention he would wait on other kids learning to speak English...Up to Here is right...Atlantic County is the Wawa Capital...Atlantic County thinks that building anothe Wawa is the answer to everything...nothing but morons living and running Atlantic County.

• Up_To_Here (53) posts 9:48 pm

  If the state considers a modern job as that of a Wawa cashier, then by all means higher the requirements. Just wondering how much this is going to cost New Jersey residents?

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