Council News Release

Councilmember Bruce Harrell
Councilmember Tim Burgess

COUNCIL ADVOCATES FOR INCREASING HIGH SCHOOL MATH
Harrell leads effort to support boosting high school math requirement

SEATTLE — The Council is expressing strong support for increasing high school math requirements. The issue is before the Washington State Board of Education after the Washington State Legislature passed a law, 2SHB 1906, directing the Board to increase math requirements for high school graduation from two to three credits. All nine members of the Council have signed a letter to the Board in support of increasing the math requirement. Councilmember Bruce Harrell said, “In order for our young people to succeed, they need to be academically ready for post-secondary education or job training programs. They need three credits of math.” Councilmember Tim Burgess said, “Education is the key to opportunity. In order to compete in today’s marketplace, Seattle’s students need to meet a higher math standard.”

While only 38 percent of Washington’s school districts meet the three credit math standard for high school graduation, the minimum college admission standard for freshmen is three credits (one credit each in Algebra, Geometry, and Intermediate Algebra II or three credits of Integrated Math through Integrated Math III). Currently, Seattle Public Schools require two math credits to be eligible for high school graduation. However, this requirement ill-prepares freshmen for the rigorous curriculum that is critically important to prepare for success in college. By increasing the math requirements, the Board of Education would uphold the State’s commitment to ensure that all those who aspire to job training programs or post-secondary education, including community and technical college and apprenticeships, will be successful.

Councilmember Harrell said, “We need to send a message to our high school students across the state: Your future depends on being prepared academically. Increasing the math requirement will help do that.”

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City Council