By Ericka Mellon/Houston Chronicle
The State Board of Education has proposed toughening high school graduation requirements despite the Legislature's clear intent last spring to provide more flexibility.
The board's draft plan - up for debate and a preliminary vote this week - would require most students to pass an Algebra 2 class to graduate. The proposed rule has set off a renewed battle over the value of mandating the advanced math course.
Proponents argue Algebra 2 is tied to college and career success. Colleges often require the course for admission. But other educators and business leaders contend some students need options that may be more relevant to their interests and job plans.
State lawmakers this year unanimously passed a law to overhaul graduation standards, promoting more flexibility for students, but they left decisions about some courses to the education board.
The sponsors of House Bill 5, Sen. Dan Patrick, R-Houston, and Rep. Jimmie Don Aycock, R-Killeen, repeatedly emphasized that local school districts should get to select the classes they deem appropriate.
Another sticking point is whether students should have to take a speech class - a mandate left out of the law but included in the education board's draft rules.
"These questions were addressed through the Legislature. They were pretty clear what their intent was," said H.D. Chambers, superintendent of the Alief Independent School District and a leading voice favoring the bill. "It's déjà vu."
Chambers and others said a compromise is possible. For example, the board may end up requiring Algebra 2 only for some graduation plans.
The new state law gives students the option of specializing in areas such as science and math, fine arts, and industry. The board's draft rules mandate Algebra 2 for all the specialities, called "endorsements." But students on the basic, or "foundation," plan would not have to take Algebra 2 under the draft rules.
The old law also gave students the option of skipping advanced algebra by graduating on an easier plan. About 20 percent of students statewide typically took that option.
Barbara Cargill of The Woodlands, chairwoman of the education board, said the preliminary rules were designed to draw public feedback.
"The conversation is far from over," she said, noting that the final vote will take place in January.
Cargill said she would like to see a newly developed hands-on, or applied, Algebra 2 course count in some cases.
Nationwide leader
Texas has been a national leader in pushing tougher math standards, according to Jennifer Dounay Zinth, senior policy analyst with the Education Commission of the States. But it now joins other states in trying to balance a college-prep curriculum with technical classes for students entering the workforce directly after high school or trade school.
Today, at least 16 other states include Algebra 2 or a similar course in their default graduation plans, according to the commission's analysis.
Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier is in the minority among his peers statewide. He said he fears that students will be steered into less challenging math courses if the state doesn't make advanced algebra the default class.
Make it optional?
"I'm very, very worried how many of our disadvantaged kids may end up in a lower track," said Grier, who runs the state's largest district, where most students come from poor families.
Major groups representing school districts - including the Texas Association of School Administrators and the Texas Association of School Boards - have written a joint letter that urges the education board to make Algebra 2 optional.
The groups want more options for advanced math classes such as accounting, robotics and mathematical applications in agriculture.
"I know some people try to make a correlation between college success and Algebra 2, but I don't buy that at all," said Mark Henry, superintendent of Cypress-Fairbanks ISD.
Henry said he supports Algebra 2 being required for students on the science, technology, engineering and math diploma plan.
The state's commissioners of K-12 and higher education, Michael Williams and Raymund Paredes, have expressed support for students taking upper-level math courses such as Algebra 2. Both declined to comment specifically on the State Board's draft rules.
Texas businesses are split. A group of 22 trade associations, called the Jobs for Texas Coalition, is lobbying against Algebra 2 for all. The Texas Association of Business not only wants to mandate Algebra 2 but also chemistry and physics for most students.
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