The Illinois Senate is considering whether high school students should be required to take an extra year of math before graduation.Under current law, students are required to take three years of math. State Senator Mike Frerichs says the that's not enough. The Champaign Democrat wants high-schoolers taking math all four years. Frerichs says the idea came from two factories in his district that had problems hiring people for their jobs. He says they needed basic math skills and a lot of applicants didn't have it. Frerichs says having high-schoolers study math all four years is beneficial for those going into skilled labor and college. He says investment in the study of technology, math, engineering, and science will pay off in the long run.
Other lawmakers say the requirement would burden an already cash-strapped state school board. The measure was approved in committee and is now before the full Senate. The legislation is SB3244.
