OUR VIEW: New road for HS grad requirements?

The Utah State Board of Education is struggling with what to do with high school graduation requirements. Confronted by demands imposed by the framers of the No Child Left Behind program, academic rigor, teacher quality, and student results all become major issues.

In response to the poor performance statewide of high school sophomores on the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test, or UBSCT (pronounced U-biscuit), a committee comprising the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Steven Laing, Gov. Mike Leavitt and his task force of 50 business leaders, are rethinking the process.

Presently, sophomores from all across the state of Utah are taking another UBSCT pilot test. The results will be available later this spring. The test covers materials students have learned through the 10th grade and primarily include English and mathematics through geometry.

Without a passing score on the UBSCT a student cannot earn a high school diploma. Another alternative has been proposed by the governor’s task force and received early support by many leaders at the state level.

Alternatives to the proposed is adding four new required classes. A student would not only have to pass the class but pass the end-of-level test that is administered by the Utah State Office of Education at the end of the class.

One additional wrinkle should be mentioned. For example, a student completes the Algebra II course with a C grade. He then must pass the end-of-level test at the highest proficiency level. Receiving a B grade would mean the second highest level. An A grade indicates that the student only has to take the end-of-level test, final score not relevant. The student will need to pass the classes at certain proficiency rates to qualify for a high school diploma.

The new requirements will significantly help in the growing need for remedial programs in the higher education system. With these new requirements being placed into effect, it will greatly reduce the strain that is placed on the professors to teach these remedial classes.