State Proposes Upping Courseload: Officials: Change is Needed to Align With Georgia Performance Stan

May 27, 04:09 AM

Current Headlines: By Harry Franklin, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, Ga.

May 27--The Georgia Department of Education wants to increase the number of courses students are required to take in math and science and the number of course credits students must receive to graduate.

The department wants to know what the public thinks about proposed changes in the state graduation rule that would take effect with the freshman class of 2008-09.

The DOE is holding a first round of meetings to receive input in the next three weeks.

The rule establishes minimum requirements students must meet to graduate from a high school in Georgia. State officials said the change is needed to align with the Georgia Performance Standards, the state's revised curriculum.

Presently, college prep students are required to take four years of math and those on track for a technical diploma must take three years of math. All students are required to take three years of science.

Under the proposed changes, all students would have to take four years of math and four years of science in high school. The number of credits required to graduate also would increase from 22 to 23.

The changes would have to be approved by the Georgia Board of Education and will likely go to the board for consideration by the end of this calendar year.

"This rule is a very important part of making sure our students are college- and work-ready when they leave high school," said State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox. "We are excited to receive input from our educators, parents, students, business leaders and the community at large.

"We brought a lot of people to the table as we developed this first draft. Now it's time to hear from the general public and make any necessary changes before this becomes a state board rule."

The first draft was created by a committee made up of representatives from local school districts, the DOE, University System of Georgia, the Department of Adult and Technical Education, the Governor's Office of Student Achievement, members of education stakeholder groups and the business community. Subcommittees were created to consider and make recommendations on specific academic areas.

The department will receive comment on the proposals in person at a public meeting, by letter or by e-mail. Sixteen public sessions are planned, with other opportunities for public input planned in coming months at times and places to be announced.

Written comments and questions can be sent to the DOE Policy Division by e-mail at policy@doe.k12.ga.us [mailto:policy@doe.k12.ga.us] or by mail to Graduation Rule Input, c/o Georgia Department of Education Policy Division, 2053 Twin Towers East, 205 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta, Ga. 30334.

To review the graduation rule proposal, go to www.gadoe.org/documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.47.pdf [http://www.gadoe.org/documents/doe/legalservices/160-4-2-.47.pdf].

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