Graduation Requirements

Who's watching? Re "3 Secret Service agents dismissed in prostitution scandal," April 19 It's nobody's business what others do behind their bedroom doors. If they're employees and their extracurricular activities do not diminish their on-the-job performance, then I don't give a hoot. In the case of the Secret Service agents implicated in the prostitution scandal in Colombia, it's what's between their ears that is in question, not what they do in bed. The real message in all of this is that some in the media and President Obama's opponents are undoubtedly investing great sums of time and money to convince people that these events are somehow reasons that he should not be reelected.

The Los Angeles Unified School District will require all students to pass a college-preparatory curriculum beginning next fall. The Class of 2016, next year's ninth-graders, will be the first in the nation's second-largest school system who must take those courses needed to apply to a four-year state university. The Board of Education approved a proposal Tuesday that also allows the students to pass those classes with a D - rather than the C needed for admission to either a Cal State or UC school.

Getting a high school diploma from the Oxnard Union High School District may be tougher for students entering ninth grade this fall. The board on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to increase graduation requirements for the class of 1995, adding more English and math courses and a proficiency in computer literacy. The total number of credits for graduation would increase from 220 to 230.

Who's watching? Re "3 Secret Service agents dismissed in prostitution scandal," April 19 It's nobody's business what others do behind their bedroom doors. If they're employees and their extracurricular activities do not diminish their on-the-job performance, then I don't give a hoot. In the case of the Secret Service agents implicated in the prostitution scandal in Colombia, it's what's between their ears that is in question, not what they do in bed. The real message in all of this is that some in the media and President Obama's opponents are undoubtedly investing great sums of time and money to convince people that these events are somehow reasons that he should not be reelected.

Tiny Saugus Union School District, with eight elementary schools and about 3,800 students, has become the first school district in California to establish kindergarten graduation requirements. Beginning in September, parents of kindergarten students will be informed that their children will have to pass a 60-point exam to be promoted to the first grade. Kindergartners will be tested on basic math concepts, such as the ability to count to 30 orally and to write, in order, the numbers 1-10.

Capistrano Unified's trustees have set several new high school graduation requirements, but have not agreed on whether to raise standards in English, math and science. Starting with next year's freshman class, students will need to earn 230 credits to graduate, 10 more than now. Juniors will have to attend six classes daily instead of five. The district is updating its graduation requirements to meet new state standards.

Eight years ago, the Los Angeles Board of Education adopted an ambitious plan to have all students take college-prep classes to raise academic standards in the nation's second-largest school district. Now, that plan is about to take effect: Beginning this fall, incoming freshmen will have to pass those classes to graduate. On Tuesday, district officials backtracked, offering details of a proposal to reduce overall graduation requirements and allow students to pass those classes with a D grade.

The San Francisco Board of Education has dropped tough graduation requirements for the class of 2001 after learning that 30% of the city's high school seniors would fail to meet the standards. The board voted unanimously on Tuesday, saying it had failed to provide students with enough tutors or extra classes to meet the requirements. In 1997, the board voted to require more math, English, science, arts and foreign language courses.

Fearing that Fillmore High School graduates are unprepared for careers or college, school officials have drafted a plan to ensure that students enroll in the right classes. The Fillmore Unified School District Board of Trustees gave its approval Tuesday for teachers and administrators to join forces with staff counselors in guiding students' academic progress. High School Principal Jamie Castellanos said he will examine course schedules for all 11th- and 12th-graders.

Newport-Mesa Unified trustees last week approved changes in graduation requirements for high school students. The number of credits required to graduate has been increased from 220 to 230, and students will be required to perform community service, complete a senior project and pass algebra. The board also approved establishing a community day school in the fall. About 45 students are expected to attend. In addition to regular schoolwork, they will receive counseling and other support.

There's a lot more to improving education than just raising the bar and expecting everyone to reach it, as the Los Angeles Unified School District is discovering about its ill-conceived, 7-year-old policy to require students to pass a college-prep curriculum in order to graduate. The district's intentions were good. Not only were too few students attempting the so-called A through G curriculum -- a required series of high school English, math, social studies and other courses required for entry to California's public four-year colleges and universities -- but the numbers attempting it were much lower among disadvantaged black and Latino students.

Eight years ago, the Los Angeles Board of Education adopted an ambitious plan to have all students take college-prep classes to raise academic standards in the nation's second-largest school district. Now, that plan is about to take effect: Beginning this fall, incoming freshmen will have to pass those classes to graduate. On Tuesday, district officials backtracked, offering details of a proposal to reduce overall graduation requirements and allow students to pass those classes with a D grade.

While high schools across the state are toughening their graduation requirements to prepare students for college, one of the state's largest school districts is planning to make it easier for students to graduate. In a proposal that would cut out health, college and career planning, world geography and earth science as required courses, the Santa Ana Unified School District is seeking to reduce the number of credits necessary to graduate.

The Los Angeles Unified School Board voted unanimously Tuesday to oppose the state's requirement that students pass an exit exam before graduating from high school, a move that some educators hope will influence the state to postpone or drop the test. "We should be working with the State Board of Education so that this whole thing gets stopped," said board member Genethia Hudley-Hayes, who co-sponsored the motion with board member Jose Huizar.

Re "No Plans, No Graduation Rite, Seniors Told," May 7: What happened to freedom of choice? Why should District C Supt. Robert Collins have the power to decide who will participate in graduation ceremonies when all the graduation requirements have been met? And who is he to say that only those who attend college will succeed? Is the L.A. Unified School District willing to subsidize students who would choose to enroll in college if they were financially able? Perhaps if the LAUSD cut the salaries of the administrative staff it could initiate a subsidy plan for financially needy students.

His Ventura College buddies may be sweating this spring as they wait to hear whether they have been accepted for transfer to a University of California campus in the fall, but not chemistry major Armando Hernandez, who secured his scholastic future months ago. In August, Hernandez, 20, signed a contract with UC Santa Cruz that guarantees him admission if he maintained a 2.8 grade point average and took certain classes.

The school board will consider a change in high school graduation requirements at its meeting tonight. The changes for Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District students would include reducing physical education requirements from three years to two years and eliminating driver's education as a required course. The changes are being recommended by an advisory committee that includes several high school and middle school principals.

Seniors in the Garden Grove Unified School District will need one more year of English under their belts to graduate as part of new requirements approved this week by the Board of Education. The revised graduation requirements will be mandatory for students scheduled to complete high school in 2000 and are recommended for students who are currently juniors. Under the new guidelines, 145 of the 220 units needed for graduation must come from nonelective classes.

The graduates of Eagles Academy walked proudly across a stage last month to collect their high school diplomas before an audience of friends, family and dignitaries. The nine students from the continuation school in West Hollywood received achievement certificates and plaques congratulating them for "completing this most important educational journey." There was only one problem: Nearly all of the would-be graduates hadn't finished high school.

Cal State Fullerton may require undergraduates to take a class online in order to graduate, which would make the school only the second in the country and the first in California with such a prerequisite. The only school in the country with a similar requirement is Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey, which starting this fall with freshmen will require students to take an online course each year.