Kansas universities drop HS science reqs

[OHMomof2]

Hmm.

In a play for more students at public colleges in Kansas, state education officials propose no longer requiring completion of certain high school courses, such as chemistry and physics, as a condition of admission to universities.

https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2019/09/23/kansas-state-institutions-tossing-required-course-work

Does Kansas really teach HS science at all?

[RichInPitt]

@OHMomof2;d-2157692

Does Kansas really teach HS science at all?

What does this mean? “Kansas” is a state - it doesn’t “teach” anything.

I can assure you that high schools in Kansas teach science. Did you think they didn’t?

[sushiritto]

Science? Who needs science? :lol:

[MYOS1634]

Many districts are cash strapped (were down to 4 days a week not long ago) and only regents requirements were taught. Reducing the mandatory classes means you allow for districts to cut some classes with no consequences - it means that in poorer districts there won’t be any chemistry nor any physics anymore. In order to attend KU students will have to take science classes after Biology but each school will be free to decides what counts. In fact the 4 directionals will no longer have any course requirements just a 3.25 GPA.

[Mwfan1921]

^^^Actually the article says the min gpa for the 4 directionals is 2.25(!)…U Kansas and KSU 3.25.

[OHMomof2]

@RichInPitt

@OHMomof2;d-2157692

Does Kansas really teach HS science at all?

What does this mean? “Kansas” is a state - it doesn’t “teach” anything.

I can assure you that high schools in Kansas teach science. Did you think they didn’t?

Seems like there have been some pretty serious budget cuts in Kansas so yes, I’m questioning if they - the state - are trying to avoid having to teach science.

I might have had the “we won’t teach evolution” thing in the back of my mind as well.

[Eeyore123]

I wonder how many kids will hit Senior year and realize that they are under-prepared for out of state schools?

[OHMomof2]

Daniel Archer, the regents’ vice president for academic affairs, said the move away from class rank and the curriculum requirement simplifies the admissions system. He said reviewing college applications is onerous now because applicants must list all their classes.

?? Do Kansas students not send HS transcripts to the colleges they apply to?

https://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article235212387.html

[ucbalumnus]

@MYOS1634

Many districts are cash strapped (were down to 4 days a week not long ago) and only regents requirements were taught. Reducing the mandatory classes means you allow for districts to cut some classes with no consequences - it means that in poorer districts there won’t be any chemistry nor any physics anymore.

Could mean reducing opportunity for students in those school districts to succeed in any college major where high school chemistry and/or physics is a helpful or necessary prerequisite to college chemistry and/or physics.

[college_query]

The state of Kansas is losing population. State schools typically get a certain percentage of graduating high school seniors, and as that total number declines, the university enrollment numbers also decline.

[UCBUSCalum]

These kids who are majoring in science (biological and physical), engineering, health science, etc. will take longer to finish the college requirements and therefore bump up the university enrollment.

[Groundwork2022]

“Daniel Archer, vice president of academic affairs in the Board of Regents office, said the board took this step with the needs of first-generation college students in mind.”

Ouch.

IMO if students aren’t qualified to attend college, instead of lowering the bar across the board the state should beef up it’s education programs and opportunities in the trades. A college degree is actually supposed to mean something, not just be a rubber stamp on “adulthood” or what passes for it.

[OHMomof2]

The first gen thing was mentioned but IMO it’s not the driving factor. They’re not getting as many kids as they used to, so lowering standards is a way to try to get more. IMO.

Hopefully, with the Qualified Admissions curriculum gone, Kansas will not return to offering science credit for home economics. But this action does dismiss any need for chemistry and physics in the many small Kansas schools that barely offer a 1930s curriculum and should be consolidated. This regents’ action in Kansas is a symptom of America’s widespread educational race to the bottom.

Talk about ouch.

http://www.emporiagazette.com/gaz/article_7d661de4-de2d-11e9-9a83-53e2e153f463.html

[OHMomof2]

Is it really an effort to cut high school budgets?

Currently, Watson said, “Every school district by your regulations has to offer that curriculum in their school to be an accredited school in Kansas. You must offer that Board of Regents qualified admissions courses. If you can’t offer, chemistry for example, you cannot be accredited in Kansas.”

…but now you can?

https://kasb.org/nb0917-3/

[atomom]

Do any of you actually live in Kansas? Kansas-bashing seems to be a popular sport.
Fwiw, only about 25% of Kansans live in rural areas–about average among the states. The problem of rural schools having limited course offerings is a problem of rural schools everywhere.
Imo this policy won’t change anything. It simplifies the admissions officers’ jobs–no more checking course titles/requirement categories. Perhaps it will attract a few students who haven’t taken chemistry or physics. KS high schools will still have their graduation requirements–3 years each of science, math, and social studies, 4 years of English, etc. Universities will still have their GPA and ACT requirements. (Before 2001 KS universities accepted all students with a KS high school diploma.) I can confirm that a wide variety of science classes are taught in most (largely urban and suburban) KS public high schools.

Imo, a better strategy to increase enrollment would be to increase merit aid to give top students incentive to stay in KS. Attract the best students who are more likely to stay/graduate and improve the university’s reputation–rather than marginal students who are more likely to drop out.

[OHMomof2]

Perhaps it will attract a few students who haven’t taken chemistry or physics. KS high schools will still have their graduation requirements–3 years each of science, math, and social studies, 4 years of English, etc

What would the 2 not-Bio HS sciences be?

[atomom]

Everyone must take biology.

Then another lab science. Other than several levels of chemistry and physics, some courses that our district lists under lab sciences are: Earth/space science, physical science, astronomy, meteorology, and environmental science.

The third (elective) could be another biology–like AP Biology, anatomy, zoology, field biology, etc.

So it is possible–but not recommended for college-bound students-- to graduate without chemistry or physics,.

[ucbalumnus]

@atomom

So it is possible–but not recommended for college-bound students-- to graduate without chemistry or physics,.

Indeed (and not limited to students from Kansas), it is not all that rare to find student posters whose high school schedules avoid taking any physics course (sometimes because they would rather take AP biology and/or AP chemistry and/or biology electives instead).