PHOENIX — A battle is brewing over the question of how much math is enough.
A task force appointed by Gov. Janet Napolitano wants all Arizona high schoolers to have to take four years of math to graduate. Now they need just two courses — elementary algebra and geometry.
Panel members already have Napolitano on their side. The governor said Wednesday that two years of math isn't enough to prepare Arizona students for the jobs of the 21st century.
The proposal from the P-20 Council — so named because it covers everything from preschool through graduate work — is getting a fight from state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne. He contends that the move, while well-intentioned, is misguided and will lead to more dropouts.
Hanging in the balance is whether Arizona high schoolers — who already have to pass tests in math, reading and writing to graduate — now will face another hurdle to getting a diploma.
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"The recommendation that we move to four is where we're going to have to end up if our students are going to be competitive with students from other states," Napolitano said.
"For many students, a lot more math is necessary," Horne acknowledged. "And we are doing everything we can to encourage it."
But he said that isn't true for everyone.
"Some people are going to be English teachers, some people are going to be newspaper writers, some people are going to be musicians or music teachers," Horne said. "They don't need math beyond elementary algebra and geometry to succeed in their professions."
But school officials in Tucson say students need four years of math just to get into one of the state universities, though not all students aim for that goal. None of the nine districts in the Tucson area requires four years of math, though four of them require three years.
Many educators were hesitant to praise adding credits to an already crowded school schedule, but some said the requirement could boost the importance of math.
"It would be an interesting precedent," said Ethan Hurley, high school curriculum coordinator for the Vail Unified School District, which requires three years of math. "You're giving it a lot more strength and a lot more credibility."
The Catalina Foothills Unified School District also has a three-year requirement, but officials in the coming months expect to discuss revising that, and may talk about adding credits, said Assistant Superintendent Mary Jo Conery.
"I anticipate that this discussion will come up, but I don't know what the result of it will be," she said.
If the four-year requirement becomes official, Hurley said, he hopes options for students who aren't going to a four-year university will be available.
"They don't need to take pre-calculus (the typical senior-year math class) if they're not trying to get to college," he said. "I'd like to see them be able to take business math ... or personal finance."
Horne said he fears the four-credit mandate actually might result in some students' getting even less education.
"To tell a student that he will not graduate unless he or she can pass intermediate algebra or other mathematical subjects beyond what we're now testing for, I believe would have the unintended consequence of raising the dropout rate," he said.
Horne cited six national studies that he said all show that the more years of math required, the lower the graduation rate.
Napolitano, however, said that doesn't appear to be the case, at least in Arizona.
She pointed to those districts that already require three years of math and said they have higher graduation rates than schools without that mandate.
And the governor said Arizona is one of only six states that require just two years of high school math.
In its proposal, the council sidestepped the question of what classes would be required.
Napolitano said that provides more options, with some students taking advanced algebra and calculus while others take "applied math" courses.
"The point is to keep practicing math through high school and not to have this two-year gap between when you finish your required math and when you graduate," she said.
