The San Diego City school board voted Tuesday to revamp the district's high school science program. KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
Board members approved a plan that lets students decide whether they want to begin their science education with chemistry, biology or physics.
Previously, high school students had to take physics in their freshman year, followed by chemistry and biology. But critics say ninth graders don't have the proper math skills to succeed in physics. Science teacher Sandra Mann was one of a few speakers who urged the board to adopt the new proposal.
Mann: "Not all students enter high school at the same level of readiness. Flexibility allows the parents to decide what sequence is best for a particular student.
Until five years ago San Diego high school students took biology first, then chemistry and physics. But the school board changed that because they believed exposing freshman to physics would help them perform better in science. Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
