Graduation Gets Tougher

The Tustin Unified School District voted 3 to 1 Monday to make several revisions to the high school graduation requirements, which will affect current eighth-graders graduating in 2004.

One revision increased science requirements from two to three years to comply with new state standards, and will add earth science to life and physical science.

Research and technology, a new semester computer course, was added as a required class. Students may test out of the course.

A health and safety course was eliminated, but the class material will be placed in the science curriculum.

The minimum math standard was also altered to require students to pass geometry, compared to the current requirement of two years of any kind of math.

Board President Ann G. Albertson voted against the revisions and Trustee Jonathan W. Abelove was absent.

Albertson she said she was concerned that the amount of required courses might force students to go to summer school.

“Some of the elective courses are the ones that really spark the interest of students,” she said. “I am very concerned that we are requiring so many courses that we are taking away the student ability to make choices in high school.”

Trustee Jane Bauer said the students will greatly benefit from the added requirements.

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Marissa Espino can be reached at (714) 966-5879.