Regents back competency plan

Utah's higher education leaders gave their unanimous support Friday to the state Board of Education's competency-measured education plan.

The State Board of Regents voted to throw their support behind Performance Plus, a $393 million proposal to strengthen education requirements at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

State Board of Education chairman Kim Burningham gave a presentation to regents prior to the vote. He left Friday's meeting convinced everyone at least backed the concept of Performance Plus, even if funding remains a huge stumbling block.

Regents' support didn't come, however, before much debate about two things in particular:

• Math requirements for high school students.

• The relationship between public education and higher education.

Regents member David Jordan first brought up the subject of high school math requirements in a committee meeting. He questioned whether all students should be held to the same schedule of advanced math classes if they're not going to need them for their college or post-high school careers.

Jordan got plenty of response from regents who feel concepts learned in classes like trigonometry and calculus have broad-reaching impacts into disciplines beyond math and the sciences.

Weber State University President Ann Millner said she has heard from professors in several disciplines outside mathematics who all

say math skills are needed in their classes as well.

The broader subject of a possible disconnect between public education and higher education during the planning of Performance Plus also drew attention.

Rather than just a passing mention in the plan, regents suggested more emphasis on how a competency-measured education actually prepares students for college. Just because a student is deemed "competent" by test scores may not mean he or she is fully prepared for college.

After Gov. Mike Leavitt's summits on the subject and after more than 30 public meetings, the state board is expected next month to produce a final proposal for the Legislature.

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E-MAIL: sspeckman@desnews.com