Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Education chiefs call for changes in math, credits

CARSON CITY -- Judging from the results of this year's high school proficiency examination, a lot of students need help in mathematics.

Some state officials say the state should require three years of math in high school instead of two. Others favor maintaining the current credit numbers at least until the results are in for the new higher standards to be followed by Nevada schools.

The state Board of Education has held three public hearings on the issue of changing the 22 1/2 credits required for graduation, one of the highest in the nation. And board members, preparing for a fourth public hearing Friday in Carson City, may still be divided.

It started with a plan to lower the number of credit hours needed for graduation to 20 but to require three years each of math and science, where only two are now required. At two subsequent hearings other alternatives were advanced.

School districts, according to Keith Rheault, deputy state superintendent of public instruction, don't want any change right now. The districts are aligning their courses with the higher standards being required. They have asked the state board to wait a year to see the outcome of the tougher courses on the horizon for high school students in math.

Rheault said the districts feel there may not be a need to raise the number of math and science hours if the higher standards will accomplish the job of getting students better prepared for the proficiency exam.

That doesn't sit well with Bill Hanlon, a state education board member from Las Vegas. "The districts don't appear to be taking the Nevada Reform Educational Law seriously enough," he said.

More than 50 percent of the students taking the high school proficiency math examination for the first time failed, he said.

The students have been allowed to take the test six times in order to graduate. Still some continue to fail.

Hanlon wonders how the school districts, if they couldn't get the children ready in two years of math, are going to fare with tougher tests and higher grades required in the future.

But board President David Sheffield of Elko said it may be premature to change anything. He said he's leaning toward a third alternative that would leave the 22 1/2 credits unchanged while the new, tougher course standards are put into the classrooms.

Instead he favors concentrating on remediation for those students who can't measure up. The 22 1/2 credits requires that 14 of them be in basic subjects. By retaining this standard, Sheffield says a student who is falling behind could use one of his elective credits to catch up in math or science.

With the new standards and curriculum coming on board, Sheffield said, "We don't want to throw everything into chaos."

Sheffield favors a plan requiring school districts to provide remedial instruction to each junior and senior who lacks credits in English, mathematics or science or who has taken the high school proficiency examination at least twice and failed one or more portions.

The districts would not be able to charge the student any money for these remedial classes to be taken during the summer, during intersessions or before and after school.

The proposed regulation also would require students to be enrolled in a minimum of six courses in the 9th, 10th and 11th grades and a minimum of five courses per day as a senior.

It would not allow students to call themselves sophomores unless they have six credits including one each in English, math and science. To be a junior, students must have earned a minimum of 12 credits including two in English, two in math and two in science. And to qualify as a senior, students must have earned at least 17 credits.

Hanlon realizes there are some drawbacks to the proposal for a third year each of math and science. Nevada and other states face shortages of qualified teachers in those two subjects. And he says the school districts may have a legitimate complaint that they don't have the science labs now to accommodate additional courses.

"But the districts haven't come up with an alternative," Hanlon complained. "I wish there were a simple solution. With the districts coming to the board and whining without another option, that is no longer acceptable."

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