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When the Legislature passed a law during the spring special session requiring students who enter 9th grade in fall 2007 to take a fourth year of math and science in order to graduate under the recommended and distinguished achievement programs, the task of determining which courses would satisfy the requirements was left to the State Board of Education (SBOE). In a final unanimous vote on Nov. 17, 2006, the SBOE completed the task, making revisions to the recommended and distinguished achievement programs, which included:

Under the recommended plan:

* The fourth math credit must be selected from a list of SBOE-approved math courses, which range from Math Models to Pre-Calculus; however, Math Models cannot be taken after Algebra II. Much of the debate centered around whether Math Models should remain as an option, as some questioned whether it is a rigorous enough course. Despite intense pressure from legislative leadership and some factions of the business community to eliminate Math Models and require Pre-Calculus or other courses for which Algebra II is a prerequisite, the board listened to numerous educators who testified that, if taught correctly, Math Models was a rigorous course that served as a useful bridge between Geometry and Algebra II, and that it was unrealistic to eliminate it, leaving students with only Pre-Calculus and several other Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses as options.

* Regarding the fourth science credit, the board again withstood pressure from business factions to eliminate Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) as an option and instead stuck with their decision in September to allow IPC to be phased out gradually. The board was particularly swayed by testimony from educators who enthusiastically defended the merits of IPC. The final rule requires 9th graders entering with the 2007-08 school year under the recommended high school program to take Biology, two credits from one of the following: IPC, Chemistry or Physics, and one credit from a list of approved lab-based science courses. The rule also stipulates that students cannot take IPC their senior year. Then, beginning with freshmen entering with the 2012-13 school year, students must take Biology, Chemistry, Physics and a fourth lab-based science course from an approved list.

Under the distinguished achievement program:

* The fourth math credit must be a SBOE-approved math course for which Algebra II is a prerequisite (Pre-Calculus, Independent Study, AP/IB math courses or a dual enrollment class on the college level).

* The fourth science credit must be selected from a list of SBOE-approved lab-based science courses.

The SBOE also voted to increase the credit requirements for graduation under the recommended and distinguished achievement programs from 24 to 26 credits to allow students to take electives such as fine arts and physical education. Under the plan, students will still be allowed to take Algebra I in grades 7 and 8 to fulfill the first credit of the four-credit requirement.

Under current law, students may opt out of the recommended and distinguished achievement plans and pursue the minimum graduation plan, with parental and school approval.

Updated: 11/17/06