Graduation rule requires students to take additional 'core' classes

The State Board of Education recently passed a new set of graduation requirements that will serve to raise the bar for Georgia students.

The new graduation rule, which was revised in conjunction with the implementation of the new Georgia Performance Standards (GPS), goes into effect for first-time freshmen entering school in the fall of 2008.

One facet of the new rule is that it eliminates Georgia's "tiered" diploma system, which puts forth different expectations for different students.

Currently, students at LCHS and across the state can choose from four types of diplomas, each with its own set of requirements: College Preparatory (CP), College Preparatory with Distinction (CP+), Technology/ Career (TC), and Technology/Career with Distinction (TC+).

Under the new rule, each student will receive the same diploma, with one common set of requirements. The state is endeavoring to give all students a strong foundation in mathematics, English, social studies, and science, regardless of their post-secondary plans. Students may then use electives to "personalize" their education.

Comparisons of other revisions to the state graduation policy are as follows:

Total Units - Current LCHS Rule: 29 total units are required for all diplomas; Current State Rule: 22 total units are required for CP and TC diplomas, and 24 total units are required for CP+ and TC+ diplomas; and the New State Rule: 23 total units are required for all students.

English/Language Arts - The current LCHS and state rules as well as the new state rule are identical: four units are required for all students.

Mathematics - Current LCHS Rule and State Rule: four units are required for CP and CP+ diplomas, and three units are required for TC and TC+ diplomas, and the New State Rule: four units are required for all students.

Science - Current LCHS Rule: four units are required for the CP and CP+ diplomas, with three units required for the TC and TC+ diplomas; Current State Rule: three units are required for all students; and the New State Rule: four units are required for all students. However, the fourth unit may be used to meet both science and elective requirements.

Social Studies: Current LCHS Rule: four units are required for all students, and the Current State Rule and the New State Rule: three units are required for all students.

According to Dr. Randall Edmunds, Lincoln County school superintendent, "We may make a change here at the local level and substitute one of our social studies units with the choice of an academic elective. The board will rule on this when we revise our local policy to bring it into compliance with the new state regulations."

Health and Physical Education - All three are identical: one unit is required for all students.

Computer Technology, Fine Arts, Technology Career Preparatory, and Foreign Language - Current LCHS and State Rule: one unit of one of these subjects is required for all students, with two units of a foreign language required for CP and CP+ students, and the New State Rule: a total of three units are required from CTAE (Career, Technology, and Academic Education) and/or Foreign Language and/or Fine Arts for all students.

Furthermore, students planning to enter or transfer to a University System of Georgia Institution or other post-secondary institution must take two units of the same foreign language.

Electives - Current LCHS Rule: all students are required to take nine electives (CP+ students must take three academic electives, and CP, TC+, and TC students, two); Current State Rule: from five to six additional elective units are required depending on the tier; and New State Rule: four additional elective units are required for all students.

Commenting on the revisions, Superintendent Edmunds said, "These changes don't affect us all that much because were on block scheduling and we already require more units for graduation than the state does. With block scheduling, students have more opportunities to earn units than those on a six-hour day. Since a student can earn a maximum of 32 units on the block schedule, we'll probably keep our total required units for graduation at 29. However, we will review this in the near future."

According to state law, local systems can add requirements above and beyond the state requirements, which were calculated using a six-hour day.

The superintendent went on to say, "Some argue that because we're raising the bar, we should have fewer dropouts. But this seems like false reasoning to me. The new graduation rule may actually cause more students to get frustrated if they can't acquire the units they need and drop out. I don't think increasing the re- quirements will cause the number of students staying in school to increase. In my opinion, it will have the opposite effect.

"It will certainly be a challenge for our teachers and students to meet the new requirements and continue to increase the percentage of students graduating from LCHS," Dr. Edmunds continued. "Additional math and science units will make it tougher for those students who would have been on the Technology/Career path."

The new state rule does provide for support classes.

The graduation rule likewise includes changes in high school math courses. The Georgia Performance Standards for mathematics courses integrate algebra, geometry, and statistics at all levels.

Since the new standards do not match the content in current math courses, course titles such as Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, and so forth will be replaced by Math 1, Accelerated Math 1, etc. Beginning in 2008, two math sequences will be available: Math 1, 2, 3, and 4 and Accelerated Math 1, 2, 3, with multiple fourth-year options.

For more information about the state's revised graduation rule, visit the following website: www .gadoe.org.