Report says high school grads needed help with English, math

Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999 | 12:21 p.m.

A draft report prepared by the University and Community College System of Nevada shows 24.3 percent of the freshmen enrolling in a university and 25.1 percent enrolling in a community college were required to take remedial courses in one or both of the key subject areas.

The results of the evaluation were reported Monday to the Senate Human Resources and Facilities Committee during discussion of a resolution urging Nevada educators to share information about student performance in high school and at the college level.

Jane Nichols, vice chancellor for academic affairs for the university system, discussed the results of the 1999 report with lawmakers while testifying in support of the resolution.

"The data on the remedial student this year is in some ways encouraging, I think," she said.

Sen. Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said it was the shock of learning in 1997 that nearly half of the college freshman from Nevada high schools required remedial classes that caused him to push for higher academic standards in the public schools.

The $1.1 million cost of the remedial classes required by the Nevada graduates is based on $236 per credit hour at universities and $179 per credit hour at community colleges.