H.S. Graduation Requirements Task Force
January 9, 2007
Minutes

In attendance: Sherrie Brown, Steve Clarke, Bobbie Jaffe, Zoe Kapan, Julie Kratzig, Gigi Morganti, Michelle Ouilette, Todd Smith, Jennie Styer, Phyllis Textor, Alan Doud, Ralph Hayden.

I.   The meeting began with a review of the minutes from the December 12, 2006 meeting. No changes were suggested.

II.  Information was shared with the group:

• Sherrie distributed copies of Bellingham Herald articles that were shared by Bobbie Jaffe about Oregon’s work on adjusting graduation requirements.
• Sherrie gave the group copies of an article from the Cincinnati Enquirer that was provided by Phyllis Textor about Ohio’s plans to increase graduation requirements.
• Sherrie shared an abstract of a report that Gigi Morganti provided from “Achieve and Jobs for the Future” that reinforces lowering the standards for struggling students was not a solution for reducing the number of dropouts.
• Clarification about Mabton School District giving credit for two years of Integrated Mathematics at 1.5 credits per year. It was clarified that beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, Mabton is no longer giving credit for Integrated Mathematics, but is requiring students to meet the math requirement of 3.0 credits by taking Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II.
• Clarification that Math 300 students had not been included in the AP/Honors data that Brian Rick provided for Susan Zoller in the “College Ready Transcript Study Follow Up” memo from August 14, 2006.
• Clarification that all students, not just graduates, had been included in the data from the same memo.
• Sherrie shared the most recent information from the HEC Board that stated three years of mathematics were needed for college entrance that includes Algebra, geometry and advanced math.
• Sherrie shared information about entrance requirements for technical school. Dale Kinsley and Julie Kratzig provided clarification about the use of Accuplacer for determining student readiness. Julie clarified that Accuplacer assesses student readiness at the Algebra I level.

III.   Additional data was given to the group:

• Sherrie gave the group the following data:
  - Washington State Model District’s Initiative data for Bellingham School District from Gates prepared by Fouts and Associates in December 2006
  - Appendix B of “On-time and Extended Graduation Data” from OSPI
  - Appendix C of “On-time and Extended Graduation Data” from OSPI
  - Data on the number of BSD students who took Pre-college Courses at CTC institutions

IV. Comparison of current BSD graduation requirements with college entrance requirements

• The group identified gaps between the current BSD requirements and college entrance requirements. The following areas of gaps were identified:
  - English
  - Math
  - Science
  - World Languages
  - Occupational Education – specifically Tech Connections
• No gaps were identified in Social Studies or Fine Arts
• It was agreed that as the group discusses possible recommendations for adjustments to the graduation requirements they would identify tentative adjustments for all areas, then use the new requirements to create actual student scenarios to test the feasibility of the new recommendations. The group agreed to discuss each of the areas in which there are gaps, then step back and discuss the total impact on students with all possible changes in place. The group also asked for information about if students who are not taking a full load during their senior year would have room for more requirements in their schedule. Sherrie agreed to try to have that data available at the next meeting.

V. Discussion of English Requirements

• After much discussion, a tentative agreement was reached to recommend an increase in the English graduation requirement from 3.5 to 4.0.

VI. Discussion of Tech Connections

• After much discussion, a tentative agreement was reached to recommend moving Tech Connections out of the high school. The group acknowledged that in order for this to happen, the modules now covered in Tech Connections would need to be intentionally integrated into curriculum areas and articulated over several grade levels that might start in elementary and go through middle school. This would take thoughtful planning and professional development. In addition, the group acknowledged that CTE staff would need time to create higher-level CTE courses that students could take to fulfill their 1.0 Occupational Ed. Requirements.
• The group asked Sherrie to invite Ann Reed to the next Task Force meeting so that they could learn more about the technology tiers that the state would be requiring and how the removal of Tech Connections might impact new state requirements.

VII. Next Steps

• At the next meeting the group will discuss mathematics and would like to invite the three math department heads to the discussion.

Next meeting is January 23, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. in Room 112 at Roeder. Sherrie has to be at Western Washington University at 5:00 p.m. on January 23rd so the meeting will run from 3:00-4:45 p.m.