GOP offers get-tough education plan

Standards for graduation among items on agenda

Erika Gonzalez, Rocky Mountain News

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Colorado public school students could face tougher graduation requirements and mandatory high school exit exams under an education plan presented Tuesday by Republican lawmakers.

High school graduation requirements vary from district to district, and some lawmakers believe that hurts students academically.

One of the proposed bills discussed Tuesday would require all public school students to take four years of math, four years of English, three years of science, three years of social studies and two years of foreign languages to graduate.

A year of physical education and arts classes would also be required.

"We are one of five states that has no standards," said Sen. Josh Penry, R-Fruita, who plans to sponsor a bill setting graduation requirements. "We have no choice but to increase the rigor ourselves."

Critics of the measure, however, say it contradicts a bill passed last year that allows school districts to set their own requirements based on guidelines established by the state board of education.

They also argue that schools should focus on whether kids are proficient rather than dictating that students spend a certain number of years studying a particular subject.

"If it takes them two years to get proficient in one area and three years somewhere else, that is less important than making sure they're proficient," said House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, D-Denver.

Democrats, who have a 40-25 majority in the House and a 20-15 majority in the Senate, said they will outline their public education agenda later month.

Penry said students would be given the option to "test out" of some requirements. Under Penry's proposal, districts could also receive a waiver if they can prove that their requirements are just as rigorous or more rigorous than the state's mandates.

The Republicans' plan would also require students who fail the CSAP in 10th grade to pass the exam or some other proficiency test before graduating.

Sen. Mike Kopp, R-Littleton, who would sponsor that bill, said he isn't sure what it might cost to expand testing to the 11th and 12th grades.

In addition, students would also need to demonstrate proficiency in English to earn their diplomas.

A similar bill tying graduation to English proficiency failed to pass the legislature last year. The measure was sponsored by Chris Romer, D-Denver.

Other elements of the Republicans' plan are:

• Tuition assistance for special needs students.

• A week in August during which state sales tax would not be charged on school supplies, a measure some states have passed to ease parents' back-to-school bills.

• A grant program school districts could use to reward high-performing teachers.

• Better emergency response capabilities for schools.

Romanoff said the chief items include a focus on early childhood education; increasing teacher quality through development and compensation and improving school facilities.

Gov. Bill Ritter's plan for education legislation may have to wait until mid-November, when the statewide panel he convened to study education reform will make its recommendations.

gonzaleze@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5350