By Shaley Sanders
Posted 6:31 pm, Saturday, February 16, 2013
Video: Matt Weighs in on Graduation Requirements
TYLER, TX (KLTV) – A bill filed earlier this month would enact major changes to graduation requirements, student assessments and school accountability laws.
New House Public Education Committee Chairman, Representative Jimmie Aycock, filed this broad education reform bill as a jumping off point for discussions.
District 6 Representative Matt Schaefer said he agrees with the direction of House Bill 5. He said he is in favor of giving more flexibility to school districts and taking away the heavy emphasis on standardized testing. Schaefer said there are a few things he is unsure of at this point, so he has been seeking input from superintendents here in East Texas.
Representative Jimmy Aycock has divided House Bill 5 into coursework, assessment, and accountability. Aycock said he wants to provide flexibility for students to develop their talents and pursue their interests.
One way he plans on doing that is by eliminating the requirement that all students must pass Algebra II and ELA III to receive a high school diploma.
“The way I understand the bill, it still requires a strong foundation of math, but as you move into the higher levels of math coursework, it would allow some flexibility,” Schaefer said.
He said the bill would allow students to take a math course that is related to an industry or career they show interest in.
“It’s stuff that actually applies to the real world and is maybe more meaningful and engaging for the student that we ought to allow that flexibility,” Schaefer said.
The bill also allows all high school graduates to be eligible for automatic admission to Texas public four-year universities. Aycock has created a summary of the bill. You can check that out by clicking here.
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