LEBANON - Parents of Lebanon High School students can now check their children's grades and assignments online.

High school staff members are meeting with parents to issue account passwords and teach them about the system, the Lebanon School Board learned in a report Monday. Appointments can be made by contacting the high school.

The school began a concentrated campaign to increase the percentage of students passing Algebra I after a parent complaint this fall revealed nearly half of the students in that class last spring received failing grades.

Principal Mark Finch said the goal is to close the point gap between Lebanon students and nearby districts within two years, and exceed the state average in three.

After-hours tutoring is now available. Students are to receive placement reviews and take course exit exams. Lower-level algebra and geometry classes began this fall, to teach essentials. The high school also has created a "war room" where teachers track the academic progress of students at risk of failing.

Finch said the failure rate for Algebra I this fall was 39 percent, down from last spring's 45 percent. For geometry, the failure rate was 21 percent, down from 26 percent.

Two parents in the audience Monday said they, and families they know, still aren't hearing from teachers when their children begin to struggle. Finch said teachers tell him they have made multiple attempts with some families without success.

Board members directed Finch to provide evidence of family contact attempts for every student receiving a D or F the next time board members receive a math update. No date was set for a report.

Other parents said they favor dropping Lebanon's 27-credit graduation requirement to the state's minimum, 24, to make it easier to graduate. Board members agreed to set a future work session to discuss that question.

The Oregon Department of Education has updated its graduation requirements. Beginning in 2014, no student will receive a diploma without three credits of math, and only classes of Algebra I or higher will count.