State changes high school grad requirements

Tougher graduation requirements for New Jersey high school students were adopted by the State Board of Education on June 17. The state has increased credits necessary to obtain a diploma and has added more science and math courses, and even an economics course, in an effort to better prepare students for college and careers. The state has upped the credits required for graduation from 110 to 120. State mathematics requirements have increased to three years and will be phased in as follows: Algebra I, effective with the 2008/09 ninth-grade class; Geometry, beginning with the 2010/11 freshman class, and a third year of math that builds upon these two courses, beginning with 2012/13 freshmen. Three years of lab science is now required by the state, including biology, effective with the 2008/09 ninth-grade class, a choice between chemistry, physics and environmental science, beginning with incoming freshmen in 2010/11, and a third inquiry-based lab or technical science, beginning with incoming freshmen in 2012/13. A half-year course in economics and financial literacy is now required, beginning with 2010/11 incoming freshmen.