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Campaign Updates>
Sen. Penry’s grad-standard bill passes committee
February 17, 2007
ColoradoSenateNews.com:
A GOP measure to set a comprehensive statewide standard for
the courses students must take to graduate high school won
approval in a Senate committee today.
Senate Bill 131, by Sen. Josh Penry, R-Fruita, narrowly
passed out of the Education Committee on a 4-3 vote. One
Democrat, Sen. Suzanne Williams, of Aurora, sided with the
GOP in moving the measure to the full Senate for
consideration.
“Our state is last in the country for statewide graduation
standards, and it’s putting students at a competitive
disadvantage,” Penry explained during his introduction of
the bill to committee members. “It’s time for Colorado to
take the leap and say, ‘to get a high-school diploma you
need to meet these basic requirements.’”
Under SB 131, high school students will be required to take
four years of math and four years of science in order to
graduate high school. Individual districts will be able to
decide what courses meet the state requirement.
“This bill gives a nod to local control and creates a
proper path to college,” Penry said.
Testifying in favor of SB 131 was Dan Furman, of the Fund
for Colorado’s Future.
“This bill is designed to ensure that students meet basic
education standards in preparation for college,” he said.
“Aligning with graduation requirements also helps to place
students in real-world jobs and creates a stronger state
workforce.”
Colorado is one of only six states that do not require
students to take certain courses to graduate from high
school, added Penry.
Opponents of the bill worried that it discourages a
student’s individuality in requiring certain courses, while
limiting the right to choose alternative classes.
Penry came up with the idea from serving on the Colorado
Education Alignment Council. One of the council’s
recommendations was to create a statewide curriculum
standard.
The council also concluded that rigorous course work in
high school equals college and workforce readiness.
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