Lincoln Public Schools students would need more science, math and English to graduate from high school under proposed changes to state graduation requirements.

One thing LPS students would not need -- nor would their counterparts across the state -- is to take math as seniors. Nor would they be required to take physics.

Both of those were suggested in a resolution passed last month by the Nebraska Board of Education, a first step to changing state graduation requirements for the first time in 25 years.

The board took the second step Thursday when it passed a draft of the changes to the regulations that govern school districts. A teleconference public hearing on the draft will be Dec. 8.

Making more rigorous state graduation requirements was among educational goals Gov. Dave Heineman announced in August and is on a fast track to be in place for the class of 2015.

To do that, the new requirements would have to be ready for this year's seventh-graders when they get to high school in 2011.

After the public hearing, the changes go back to the board for approval, then are reviewed by the attorney general and signed by the governor.

The proposed rule changes spell out for the first time how many credit hours are required in English (40), math (30), science (30) and social studies (30), and what content should be covered in each subject.

Gone are specific course requirements including taking math during students' senior year, which was opposed by districts that wanted more flexibility.

Proponents saw the requirement as a way to help collegebound students, because research shows they are more successful if they take math as seniors.

The state education department still could propose that it be included as a recommended "best practice."

Even without such course-specific requirements, the proposed graduation requirements would mean changes for LPS -- and for most other districts.

The biggest change statewide would be in science, where a department survey showed that nearly half of the state's 216 school districts that responded to the survey would have to increase science requirements to meet the proposed 30 hours. LPS requires 20 now.

More than 93 percent of the districts already offer the proposed 40 hours of English (LPS requires 35), and more than 85 percent already offer the proposed 30 hours of math (LPS requires 20 hours).

Ninety-seven percent -- including LPS -- already require 30 credit hours of social studies.

Typically a yearlong class is 10 credit hours.

The total number of credit hours required to graduate would remain at 200.

State Education Commissioner Roger Breed said at a Wednesday board work session that the 200-hour requirement is "archaic," but changing it would require action by the Legislature. And most districts already require more than that.

LPS, for instance, requires 220 hours to graduate. Statewide, 80 percent of school districts surveyed require 220 to 250 credits.

Now, the state requires that 80 percent of the 200 hours be from the "core curriculum," which includes math, science, English and social studies.

The draft requires the following specific content:

• English courses with composition, verbal communication, core literature, research skills and technical reading and writing.

• Math courses with geometry, advanced algebra and data analysis/probability.

• Science courses that include physical science, earth and space science, biology and scientific inquiry with lab work.

• Social sciences including civics/government, geography, U.S. and world history, and economics.

Marilyn Moore, associate superintendent for instruction at LPS, said existing district graduation course requirements cover most of the proposed content requirements. The district requires graduates have certain classes in each of those subject areas.

The district already is changing the math requirements to include not only algebra but also geometry, she said.

The big question is what courses students will choose to take to get in the extra hours required. Moore said she doesn't know how many of the district's student already take that many hours.

"If we end up with a lot more students in science classes and we need more science labs, that's very expensive instructional space," she said.

There could also be more students taking summer school or taking classes over, she said.

"All that is pretty speculative until we put the requirements in place and see the pattern of course selection," she said.

Reach Margaret Reist at 473-7226 or mreist@journalstar.com.