Graduation standards pass House committee

[MAY 12, 2005]  SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich applauded the Elementary and Secondary Education Committee on Wednesday for passing Senate Bill 575, the governor's proposal to strengthen high school graduation requirements for Illinois schools, and he urged members of the House to approve his plan. The new requirements, which passed the House committee by a vote of 15-5-1, are a key component of his "Higher Standards, Better Schools" plan, a comprehensive proposal designed to better prepare students to compete and succeed in today's economy. The new requirements are included in Floor Amendment 1 to Senate Bill 575, sponsored by Rep. Calvin Giles, D-Chicago, in the House and Sen. Miguel del Valle, D-Chicago, in the Senate.

"I applaud members of the House for understanding the need of Illinois schools to be armed with a comprehensive plan to better prepare our children to take on the world of work and higher education," Gov. Blagojevich said. "Today's committee vote reaffirms my desire to see our students performing at their highest level and prepared for wherever life might take them after they leave our public schools. I look forward to passage of this bill in the House."

To arm students with the skills and knowledge they need after high school, the governor's Higher Standards, Better Schools plan requires students to take an additional year of math. Currently, Illinois students are required to take only two years of math. Math skills are critical in today's high-tech workplace. The governor's plan requires students to take a third year of math and requires them to take algebra and geometry to graduate. Right now, it is possible for a student to graduate from an Illinois high school without ever taking algebra.

Additionally, Illinois students can currently graduate from high school with only one year of science. The governor's plan requires students to take an additional year of science.

Effective writing and communication skills are also critical to being successful in college and the workplace, but currently, Illinois students are not required to take a single writing-intensive class. The governor's plan changes that by requiring two writing-intensive courses, one being an English course. It also adds an additional year of English to ensure students take English in each year of high school.

In addition to the components included in Senate Bill 575, the governor's comprehensive plan includes proposed funding for initiatives that go beyond increasing the base requirements in math, science and English. The governor's Higher Standards, Better Schools plan includes financial incentives for schools to offer more foreign language, arts, music and agriculture education courses.

The plan also recognizes that preparation for college and the work force requires more than just improving the base curriculum. For college-bound students, the plan calls for an expansion of advanced placement courses and dual enrollment. Advanced placement courses, in a wide range of subjects, give students exposure to college-level material, giving them a jump-start on the competition when they begin college. The plan also expands access to dual credit-dual enrollment programs at community colleges. Thousands of high school students are already taking community college courses, but other high schools and community colleges need to encourage even more students to participate.

Just as schools should prepare students for college, they should also recognize that some students enter the work force after high school graduation. These students need to be trained to get good jobs as soon as they finish high school. As part of his plan, the governor is calling for improving career and technical education services.

In addition to the $140 million in new funding the governor proposed in his fiscal 2006 budget, the governor is proposing an additional $300 million in new funding for education to help schools implement his Higher Standards, Better Schools plan. The governor supports authorizing an increase of positions at Illinois' existing riverboat casinos. This plan would increase education funding without asking the hardworking people of Illinois to shoulder the burden by paying more in sales taxes or income taxes, and it does not bring gaming to places where it doesn't already exist.

Senate Bill 575 now moves on to the full House.

[News release from the governor's office]