Board beefs up requirements to enter high school

CARSON CITY -- Starting next year, it's going to be tougher for junior high or middle school students to get into high school.

Some school officials estimate that as many as 20 percent of the students may not get promoted to high school.

The state Board of Education Friday adopted a regulation that students entering junior high or middle school in 1999 must earn one unit of credit in language and mathematics in the seventh or eighth grade before they advance to high school.

A unit is one school year of a course. The board agreed to beef up the regulation to also require the student must score a C grade or higher to earn the unit.

Eric Anderson, a consultant for the state Department of Education, noted the present requirement for passing a course is a D grade. He questioned whether the new plan might lead to grade inflation.

But board member David Cook said requiring a C grade is sending a message the board expects better performance. The board will encourage the districts to beef up enforcement against grade inflation, he added.

For students entering middle or junior high in the year 2000 or after, the requirement is 1 1/2 credits in math and language.

Ira Silberlicht, assistant principal at the Rosemary Clarke Middle School in Pahrump, told the board this requirement could mean that 20 percent of the class is not promoted.

"That's 40-50 students. I'm not sure what to do with them," he said, referring to the added space and teachers that would be required.

In addition, he said the state isn't allocating any money for remedial programs for these students. Max Buffi, a teacher at the school, said some of the students enter middle school with a third-grade education level.

He said it will take money to put this program into effect.

Board member Bill Hanlon of Las Vegas complained the Legislature passes these laws but never provides the money for them.

The 1997 Legislature enacted the law for promotion to high school and now the board approved the regulation to put it into effect.

Also adopted by the education board was a regulation permitting high school students to take independent study courses outside the normal classroom. Students are limited to earning six credits toward graduation through independent study. The person giving the instruction must be licensed to teach in Nevada.

Hanlon also criticized the 1997 law that enacted this program. "Here they (the Legislature) say a student can take the core classes out of school and the school is still held accountable."

The board adopted a proposed $1.5 billion budget for the 1999-2001 biennium for aid to public schools. It calls for a 3 percent raise in each of the two fiscal years for teachers; extending the school year by two days to allow for teacher training; and projecting a 5 percent increase in enrollment.

The board also endorsed the idea of rewarding teachers to stay at at-risk schools for five years or more using the incentive of improved retirement benefits.

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