MONROE - Incoming Monroe High School freshman next fall will have to take at least three math credits to graduate.
The Monroe School Board approved a switch from two to three math credits for graduation Monday night.
Monroe High School and middle school math teachers met earlier in February to align the district's math curriculum to the new common core standards adopted by the state Department of Public Instruction.
Monroe High School Principal Rick Waski said the common core standards have a pre-calculus element and the vast majority of students at the high school don't take calculus.
"We are trying to prepare the Class of 2016 for a state test that is built off significantly higher standards," Waski said. "This is about preparing students for a certain proficiency in math."
Waski said 75 percent of the senior class has taken more than two credits in math. The University of Wisconsin-Platteville released a study recently that found 47 percent of incoming freshman from 2004 to 2010 needed a remedial math class. According to the High School and College Success Report, 50 percent of Monroe graduates entering college at UW-Platteville needed remediation in math.
"The bar continues to go up; it's not going down," Monroe School Board Vice President Bob Erb said. "We have to get out ahead of it. If we don't, we will have a lot of ground to make up."
In other action, the Monroe School Board:
n Approved the resignations of Jessica Lepak, a Monroe Middle School guidance counselor, and Molly Steger, also from the middle school.
n Approved the hiring of Brent Niemeier as a special education teacher at Monroe Middle School.
The Monroe School Board approved a switch from two to three math credits for graduation Monday night.
Monroe High School and middle school math teachers met earlier in February to align the district's math curriculum to the new common core standards adopted by the state Department of Public Instruction.
Monroe High School Principal Rick Waski said the common core standards have a pre-calculus element and the vast majority of students at the high school don't take calculus.
"We are trying to prepare the Class of 2016 for a state test that is built off significantly higher standards," Waski said. "This is about preparing students for a certain proficiency in math."
Waski said 75 percent of the senior class has taken more than two credits in math. The University of Wisconsin-Platteville released a study recently that found 47 percent of incoming freshman from 2004 to 2010 needed a remedial math class. According to the High School and College Success Report, 50 percent of Monroe graduates entering college at UW-Platteville needed remediation in math.
"The bar continues to go up; it's not going down," Monroe School Board Vice President Bob Erb said. "We have to get out ahead of it. If we don't, we will have a lot of ground to make up."
In other action, the Monroe School Board:
n Approved the resignations of Jessica Lepak, a Monroe Middle School guidance counselor, and Molly Steger, also from the middle school.
n Approved the hiring of Brent Niemeier as a special education teacher at Monroe Middle School.