ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, February 25, 1997 TAG: 9702250115
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
ONE MORE CLASS IN MATH, SCIENCE AND HISTORY would have to be taken by high school students under a new proposal by the Department of Education.
High school students should be required to study more math, science and history and to pass a statewide test to graduate, the state Department of Education said Monday.
``We want to create a standard diploma that has value,'' said Richard T. La Pointe, Virginia's superintendent of public instruction. ``We want our young people to be able to go to college if they choose to, and when they get there, to have the academic preparation to succeed.''
To comply with the new standards, public schools would require an additional course in history, science and math for both standard and advanced diplomas.
Under the proposal, students earning a standard diploma must take four history classes instead of three, and three courses each in math and science instead of two.
It will require all students to take first-year algebra, geometry, Earth science and biology.
About 30 of the 133 public school districts in Virginia already have similar academic standards, La Pointe said.
He said the department recommended toughening the state's standards after seven months of talks with teachers, parents and school administrators about the needs of college-bound students.
The state's largest teachers' union, the Virginia Education Association, is reviewing the proposal and had no immediate comment, said David Johnson, VEA's executive director.
Before the proposals can take effect, they must be approved by the State Board of Education, which will hold public hearings. The changes could take effect as early as July 27.
The state Board of Education last year approved testing for all third-, fifth-, eighth- and 11th-grade students in English, math, science and history beginning in the 1997-98 school year. Under the new standards, passing the 11th-grade test would become mandatory for obtaining a diploma. Students now must pass only the sixth grade Literacy Passport test.
The proposals do not affect current staff and safety requirements or the length of the school day or school year. They also leave the current family life, physical education, fine arts and guidance counselor requirements in place.
``The hot buttons we have not touched,'' said La Pointe. ``We felt they would divert us from our primary concerns - to raise academic achievement and provide an accountability model to measure that.''
The department's recommendations will be presented Tuesday at the state Board of Education meeting.
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