<p>The reason the requirements were put in place was not to increase science literacy, but to increase the number of students pursuing a career in science. It failed to do so, and further, fewer of the better students went into science careers. Also, the standards don’t appear to have been lowered since 5 of 6 of the students received a C at best.</p>
<p>My guess is that the problem is not with the science teachers or the curriculum, but the fact that most of the students cannot read or understand a high school textbook. Data from one new Chicago HS showed that out of 160 9th grade students only 23 were at grade-level for reading, with double that number reading at the third grade level. By having those kids in the course the better students suffer and probably come to dislike the subject matter as a result. Not a pretty picture.</p>