LCSD 1 board to ask policy advisory to study math graduation requirement after state narrows standards

Laramie County School District #1 Superintendent Dr. Newton told trustees that a December action by the Wyoming State Board of Education — which reduced the number of required high-school math standards and directed that the remaining 46 standards be taught to all students — requires the district to reexamine its graduation-course structure and student placement immediately.

The issue is urgent for students with disabilities and other struggling learners because the new math sequence expands the depth and rigor students must encounter in required courses, Newton said. He told the board the district must decide whether to change its local graduation requirement (the district currently requires four years of math, while state statute sets a three-year minimum) and asked trustees to allow the Policy Advisory Committee to draft policy language for public comment.

Why this matters: The State Board’s decision — intended to reduce and prioritize standards statewide — has the effect of concentrating more rigorous content into fewer standards. Newton told trustees the district’s review showed a reduction from 105 math standards to 46, and that the remaining standards include content…