Under Gov. Jerry Brown’s revised budget proposal, a second year of science would no longer be required for high school graduation. The aim is to save the state money.
A little-noticed proposal by Gov. Jerry Brown to eliminate the second year of science as a high school graduation requirement is sparking concern among educators who fear it could deepen the academic divide among students and further erode the state’s scientific and technological leadership.
The recommendation in Brown’s revised May budget is aimed at freeing the state from reimbursing local school districts for the $250-million annual cost of the second-year science course. The state has not made any payouts to school districts since the requirement was ruled a mandate in 2005, so California owes public school systems $2.5 billion in unpaid claims.
“This is a fiscally-driven decision,” said H.D. Palmer, spokesman for the state Finance Department. “We don’t want to keep adding to the credit card balance we already have.”
But educators worry that trimming science requirements will shut out students from qualifying to attend the University of California and California State University systems, both of which require two years of the subject. UC does not plan to alter that requirement; and Cal State is unlikely to change its policy, but trustees have not yet met over the issue, according to UC and Cal State officials.
Jessica Sawko of the California Science Teachers Assn. said financially struggling school districts could be the first to cut back science courses, potentially depriving less affluent students of equal access to higher education choices.
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