Missouri lawmakers look at increasing graduation requirements for high schoolers

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Intro:	Missouri lawmakers heard a bill Wednesday for stricter high school graduation requirements.
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Wrap: Representative Dave Hinson proposed a bill to require high school students to enroll in math and science courses in their last two semesters.

Currently students are only required to take three years of both subjects.

Hinson said when students enter college they struggle because they have not taken those courses for two years or more.

But former superintendent Larry Davis of Prairie Home, Missouri said the measure would hurt rural districts' vocational technology programs.

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Description: "Now if you put this in you could eliminate vo-tech all together. And that would be one less program maybe. So we need to accommodate ALL students."

The committee took no immediate action on the bill.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Taylor Beck.

Intro:	Missouri lawmakers suggested tougher graduation requirements at a committee hearing Wednesday.
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Wrap: Lawmakers heard Representative Dave Hinson's bill which would require high school students to enroll in math and science courses in their final two semesters.

Currently students are only required to take three years of each, and Hinson says this hinders their performance in college courses.

University of Missouri system president Tim Wolfe said he is unsure whether this measure is the best idea, but many first year college students..

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Description: "simply are not prepared to do college level math, and that seems to be the course above and beyond anything else that creates the big challenge for them."

Opponents said they worry rural, poorer school districts may not be able to pay for or offer more math and science courses.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Taylor Beck.

Intro:	Missouri lawmakers were urged to tighten high school graduation requirements after a Wednesday hearing.
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Wrap: The bill would require high school students to pass a state exam before graduating.

St. Louis Representative Michael Butler said he had some concerns, but wants to hold students accountable.

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Description: "I'm not afraid to take some hits on some kids not graduating if that means they're not prepared to go into the world."

No one spoke in opposition, but some expressed concern about special education students and students with test anxiety.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Taylor Beck.