San Diego Unified School District will boost its graduation requirements so more students can apply to a public university in California.
The San Diego school board vowed in 2009 to align the district’s graduation requirements to match the University of California and California State University systems.
Education advocates say too many students graduate without the classes and grades needed to get into a California public university.
The school board formally adopted the district’s road map yesterday to help more students become eligible.
Students will be required to take intermediate algebra, two years of a world language, and a visual performing arts class.
Teachers union president Bill Freeman told the school board it is not a dramatic change.
“We cannot afford not to do this,” Freeman said. “This is what the parents want. They want their children to go to college.”
The new requirements will kick-in for the class of 2016 -- this year’s seventh grade students.
