Because of an increase in graduation requirements and possible new testing under the No Child Left Behind Act, students at Lawrence’s high schools can enroll in some science classes in the fall with lighter prerequisite math classes than this year.

The Lawrence school board Monday night unanimously approved letting students take certain science courses without having to take more advanced math classes.

“You don’t want a lot of kids to not be able to take the science courses because they don’t have the math,” said Lynda Allen, the district’s director of mathematics and sciences.

The Kansas State Board of Education is requiring students to take three units of math and three units of science in order to graduate in spring 2009. Those students are now eighth-graders.

Students are currently required to take two units of math and two units of science to graduate.

Also, Kansas high school students may have to take science tests under No Child Left Behind requirements in 2008-2009, said Ann Bruemmer, the district’s director of arts and humanities.

“That’s the possibility,” Bruemmer said. “That is just the talk. We don’t know what will happen.”

Examples of classes that will have easier math requirements include chemistry.

Students who want to take chemistry this year must take Algebra 2 at the same time. Under the new requirements, students only need Algebra 1 before taking chemistry.

6News video: School board praises district’s energy program

This year, the district recommends a science explorations class for students who haven’t finished geometry. Next year, the class will be recommended for students who haven’t finished Algebra 1, which comes before geometry.

The district needs to offer some science classes with easier math requirements so all teens can take three years of science, Allen said.

“We want to keep kids in science. We want to get them in and keep them for three years,” Allen said. “It’s really important that we have classes for kids of different (math) levels.”