Brown’s budget reduces high school science requirement

In a little-noticed part of Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2012–13 budget, he is proposing that school districts be able to require only one high school science class instead of the two currently mandated by state law.

State law requires that high school students take one course in biological science and one in physical science.

The proposal to reduce the science requirement is another way of giving districts flexibility in their budgets at a time of diminishing resources, according to administration officials referred to in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

The proposal is likely to be controversial and create debate at a time when there is a national push to strengthen science standards so the nation can better compete globally. California is one of many states involved in helping to construct “next generation” science standards, which are expected to emphasize developing skills in areas such as engineering rather than memorizing static facts. Senate Bill 300 (2011) requires the State Board of Education to vote on new science content standards by July 30, 2013.

In addition to possible new standards in 2013–14, there may be other limits to how much flexibility districts will have in this area. Currently, every high school must provide its students with access to the courses required for UC and CSU admission, which include two laboratory sciences in two different disciplines (such as biological and physical). And to meet requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the state tests all 10th grade students in life science, making it difficult for high schools to eliminate biology.