The Lawrence school board Monday decided high school students in the district won’t be forced to pass biology to earn a diploma.

Under a policy adopted 6-0, ninth-graders will still be required to take biology. But starting in the 2004-2005 academic year they will be able to earn an “F” in the course and graduate just as long as they pass two science courses by the end of their senior year.

A district committee recommended the change because at least 19 seniors in the district have yet to pass biology and are in jeopardy of not graduating.

The board felt that was too onerous a sanction for doing poorly in one class.

“I don’t follow that line of thinking that all students must pass ninth-grade biology, otherwise they don’t get a well-rounded biology education,” said Rich Minder, board member.

About 3.5 percent of freshmen students fail biology in the Lawrence district.

In a package of curriculum changes approved by the board, a new high school science course was adopted for students struggling with math. Science Explorations will help students meet the state’s current two-course science requirement and come in handy when the state shifts to a three-course science requirement in 2009.

The board spent part of the meeting debating a proposal to turn three junior high school courses — Introduction to Foreign Languages, Music Foundations 7 as well as Family and Consumer Science — from required classes to elective courses.

The district’s curriculum committee endorsed this change to free time in schedules for students to receive supplemental reading and math instruction.

6News video: District alters biology requirement Reader Reaction message board thread: Dumbing it down, way down

Russell Blackbird, principal at South Junior High School, said he supported the move because it would help ethnic minority, low-income and disabled students concentrate on core subjects that make a difference in their lives after graduation.

“If they cannot read, write or do simple basic math then their quality of life will not improve,” Blackbird said.

Music teacher Patrick Kelly said the proposal should be tabled until after broad public discussion about implications of limiting student access to music, foreign language and life-skills courses.

He said the board and administrators were acting prematurely out of concern schools in the district wouldn’t make adequate yearly progress with students to comply with the federal No Child Left Behind law.

“This proposal is rooted in fear,” said Kelly, who teaches at West Junior High School and Hillcrest School. “How far are we willing to go to meet this dysfunctional legislation?”

The board approved the junior high changes.