A Republican proposal to implement the first-ever, comprehensive graduation standards for Colorado high school students passed through the Senate on third reading today and is en route to the House for consideration.

Senate Bill 131, by This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , R-Fruita, requires high school students to take four years of math and three years of science starting in 2009 in order to graduate. The measure earned bipartisan support on the Senate floor by a vote of 24-10.

“Colorado is last in the country for statewide graduation standards, and it’s putting students at a competitive disadvantage,” said Penry when summarizing his proposal Monday on the Senate floor. “By the end of 2008, six million American jobs will go unfilled without enough people to meet them. Clearly we have a problem.”

A few Democrats argued that the bill will be strenuous on those students who are not strong in math and science. 

However, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , R-Fort Collins, suggested that “if students can't pass math and science, maybe they shouldn’t graduate.”

The Colorado Education Alignment Council has reported that rigorous course work in high school equals college and workforce readiness.

In addition, the Colorado Department of Higher Education has determined that one-third of all incoming freshman were unprepared by K-12 high schools. Completing a rigorous high school curriculum in “core” academic subjects should save students from having to go through that process in college.

School districts will have a five-year transition period before the new standards take effect, according to Penry, who noted that the bill gives districts enough time to rework their curriculum and accommodate the new requirements. 

Several Democrats opposed strengthening graduation standards. Among them were Education Committee members Sue Windels, of Arvada, Ron Tupa, of Boulder, and Bob Bacon, of Fort Collins.

But Democrat Senators Jennifer Veiga, of Denver, Suzanne Williams, of Aurora, Abel Tapia, of Pueblo, Lois Tochtrop, of Thornton, Paula Sandoval, of Denver, and Peter Groff, of Denver, sided with Republicans on Penry’s bill.

“This bill begins to strengthen our education standards,” explained Groff. “Our kids will answer the challenges we’re sending them through this bill.” 

This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , R-Centennial, agreed. “There is no reason to maintain a lower standard just to keep kids in school,” she said. “Let’s not lower our standards so kids can get a diploma that doesn’t mean anything.”