The proposals

For now, Massachusetts requires only that high school students pass the 10th grade MCAS in English and math and take classes in civics and physical education to receive a diploma. The courses that students must take depends on the individual school system. But today in Malden, Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll plans to propose setting uniform state guidelines that would match or exceed the core classes that students must take to get into a state university. Below are the minimum requirements that are being proposed for admission to the University of Massachusetts system.

English: Four years.

Math: Three years; requirements would include Algebra II.

Social Science: Two years.

Science: Three years, including two years of a laboratory science.

Foreign language: Two years.