Preparing for 'Four by Four'

Odessa High School counselor Vicki Nall took a swig from her gallon jug of water and cleared her throat as she prepared to go over the curriculum requirements with Allyn Dobbins-Chaieb’s ninth-grade history class for the third time that day.

"Remember, you want to pay attention to your plans early and not dig yourself into a hole you can’t get out of," Nall said.

Choosing classes for a four-year plan has always been complicated, but the new curriculum requirements make getting all of the right courses a real challenge, Nall said. This year’s high school juniors will be the first students to graduate under the state’s new "Four by Four" curriculum requirements. Meanwhile, high school counselors from Permian and Odessa High School have been out in the junior high schools trying to ensure that incoming high school students plan ahead.

It’s all about science and math.

"Statistics show that students that don’t have a math class their senior year don’t do as well on their college entrance exams," Permian math department head Terri Ballew said.

Odessa High School science chair Karen Wilson said she’s happy about the addition.

"I’m excited because the state is finally recognizing the importance of science and math," Wilson said, agreeing that having students in more math and science classes will help them be better prepared for college.

Until now, students were required to take four years of both English and history but could graduate with just three years of math and science. In the new curriculum, students across Texas will be required to take an extra year of both.

Students have a choice of two plans to follow: recommended or distinguished. There is also the minimum requirement option, but this plan is not recommended until the student is a junior in high school.

In the recommended plan, students must take four years of each core class, two consecutive years of foreign language, one year of fine arts, one year of physical education and one semester of communications (speech). There are five-and-a-half elective credits.

The distinguished plan requires all of this plus an extra year of foreign language. With 26 credits required to graduate, students on either of these plans have to be cautious. Failing to pass a core subject could make life — and graduating — difficult.

"The big hit is what will we do if a student fails science as a ninth-grader," ECISD science curriculum coordinator Kim Randolph said.

ECISD officials are trying to find ways to ensure that students who fall behind can catch up, though they haven’t decided on anything yet, Randolph said. Despite the difficulties, she said she supported a more rigorous education.

"I’m all for holding up that bar and then helping kids get to it," Randolph said.

The high school counselors have been holding informational meetings for both parents and students just entering the curriculum program. During these meetings, the counselors start off with an informational video to give their audience the big pieces of information as clearly and simply as possible.

"There’s so much information that it never seems like enough," Permian High School counselor Blandi Thomas said.

Ector Junior High School ninth-grader Ziomara Zubiate said it was a little overwhelming to be planning the next three years of study so quickly.

"It’s complicated because you have to plan and think a lot about what you want to do for the next few years," Zubiate said.

Students and parents are presented with an 88-page course description guide and given a chart with the three different plan options and the required classes for each one.

The Texas Legislature’s changes to state curriculum requirements last August gave the students a little more flexibility in their plans, Thomas said. The legislature did away with curriculum requirements for health, technology and a semester of physical education. Those taking four years of athletics will also now receive four years of elective credit. This gives the students a little more flexibility in their choice of courses, Thomas said.

"It’s really just a matter of needing to stay on top of their course work and not fall behind. It’s not a noose, but it gives them less room, so they have to be focused," Thomas said.

Ector ninth-grader Veronica Erwin said she was glad to have more math and science in her schedule.

"I like it because I like challenges and learning stuff," she said.

THINGS TO KNOW

>> Students are still required to take speech (communication applications).

>> Students can take a semester less of physical education and are no longer required to take health or technology.

>> Integrated Physics & Chemistry is only an elective for students on the distinguished plan. They have to take biology, chemistry, physics and one other science of their choice.

>> Floral design is now being offered as an elective at Permian High School.