HB 5 is the landmark education reform bill that creates multiple pathways to career and college for high school students. The intent of the authors of HB 5 was that advanced courses and courses approved for the five endorsement areas should be rigorous, innovative, and relevant, and that students should have real options both for the advanced courses they take and for the courses within the endorsement(s) they choose to pursue.

Algebra II should not be required for every endorsement because Algebra II is not relevant to all the endorsements. Requiring Algebra II to be taken for each endorsement will reduce the number of relevant courses that can be taken within each endorsement and will limit a student’s choice to pursue a true content-specific pathway.

Algebra II is an essential course for students pursuing a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math endorsement or a Distinguished Level of Achievement recognition, but it is not an essential course for Arts and Humanities, Public Services, Business and Industry, or Multidisciplinary endorsements. Course options should be diverse and unique to each endorsement.

Those whose names are affixed to this petition urge the State Board of Education to adopt relevant, rigorous and innovative courses that give students multiple, real options for the required advanced courses and for each endorsement they will pursue.