BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP: District considers impact of tougher graduation rules

By Geoffrey Wertime, Staff Writer
   BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — The state Board of Education last week unanimously approved a proposal to toughen high school graduation requirements throughout the state.
   The new rules are open to public comment for 60 days, and could then be adopted by the board as early as June.
   Aimed at preparing students with modern skills, the proposal would gradually add in the following requirements: three years of mathematics, including algebra I, geometry, and a third year of math that builds upon them; three years of lab science, including biology, a choice between chemistry, physics or environmental science, and a third inquiry-based lab or technical science; and a half year of economics and financial literacy.
   Bordentown Regional School District Superintendent Constance Bauer said her district already exceeds the proposed academic requirements, but may have some difficulty with another aspect of the proposal.
   The state is also considering the addition of personalized student learning plans, which would follow students from middle school through their graduation from high school. The plans would set learning goals based on personal, academic and career interests.
   ”Personalized learning plans will be instrumental in discovering how each child learns best and in what subjects and careers he or she holds an interest,” said Commissioner Lucille Davy in a press release. “These plans will expose a student to new opportunities and actively engage parents, teachers and counselors in education decision making.”
   Dr. Bauer said the district is piloting a state program called Learn Do Earn, which is designed to help students learn the “soft skills” employers look for, “so students are employable, and once they’re in business they have the skills to be successful,” she said.
   ”That definitely ties to the state’s goal. However, we’d have to expand that to suit the needs of all the students. Obviously, that has some financial impact for us that we would need to consider.”
   She said the possibility the new rules will be in place in time for the 2009-2010 school year means the district will need to know soon what it will be required to do, since it is currently in the process of preparing its budget.
   ”I would hope at some point we get some direction on what exactly will be required,” she said.
   The proposed requirements also would introduce the Alternative High School Assessment to replace the Special Review Assessment, which is administered to students who cannot demonstrate proficiency in current curriculum standards on the state’s assessment in the 11th grade.
   They are available online through www.state.nj.us/education.