Utah education officials mull requiring math of all senior students

SALT LAKE CITY — Requiring all high school seniors to take a math class is not as simple as it sounds, state education leaders are finding.

State Board of Education members and Utah State Office of Education staff hashed out a potential policy Friday but did not take a final position. There are myriad pros and cons to the issue — and no easy answers. They do agree it's a sticky issue that will require considerable future discussion.

"This is something the board will need to think about very carefully," said Brenda Hales, associate superintendent for student achievement and school success.

The policy wouldn't increase the currently required three math credits. It would simply require students to take math in grade 12.

Less than 50 percent of Utah students take math their senior year, according to state curriculum director Lynne Greenwood.

Generally, high school students take algebra I, geometry and algebra II. Some seniors take calculus or other higher level math to help them prepare for college. Other seniors, having met their credit requirement early, choose to take a break from math for one or more years.

The problem is that many college-bound students then forget their math skills or don't get enough math instruction and have to take remedial math classes in college.

Board member Robert DePoe said, "I want students to be able to feel competent in math."

Senior math class options could include; capstone math project class; non-advanced placement statistics; or a lower-level math class for better retention, college preparation or whatever is required to help the student pass the Utah Basic Skills test.

However, this means school districts that are already facing budget cuts would have to hire more math teachers, who are often in short supply. Further, rural school districts could face special challenges in offering a wide variety of math electives. It also means the arts and other elective classes could suffer as students take math as a required course.

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