They lowered the score needed to pass.
"It calls for big changes -- requiring every student to take rigorous math and English regardless of career plans, and tying college admissions to high school exit exams, as examples."
The New Orleans school system is in big trouble.
As to more Federal money for NCLB, tell 'em no! The Feds set standards for testing - in the business world: metrics - trying to get schools to recognize that they need to gauge the efficacy of their programs. If a school can't test or teach the basics, what makes them think they are entitled to more of another state's money?
Great. The governors want more rigor for high school students, so that's where they make the demands. You can't mandate that high schoolers take rigorous coursework if they aren't prepared for it from elementary school on up. Trust me when I say that what goes on at elementary schools doesn't prepare students for rigorous study. Right now, high school teachers are stuck with what gets sent to them-- too many unprepared students.
And interesting and related situation, perhaps connected to the rotten "No child left behind" money sucking government program promoted by Ted Kennedy and signed by Bush, is this: A good friend's daughter joined the National Guard, and barely squeaked in, although she has highly superior qualifications in every way.
Why?
She was homeschooled. Apparently (and this is confirmed by another friend's homeschooling teacher, who works for the state of CA in a charter school) the military no longer will accept GEDS - which is often the only diploma homeschooled kids have.
Is this an effort to marginalize homeschooled students?
The teachers often lead the way in fighting raised standards and extra tests, etc.
"Getting every child to graduate high school with a meaningful diploma in their hands is one of the biggest challenges our country faces..."
We need to replace "country" with "Chatham County"... as in Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia. Even our school board is on probation.... and with private schools, including elementary, costing more per year than college, something needs to be done.
Of course the NEA and ATF will never allow any of the above to happen, as they are unions desiring of protecting the jobs of teachers NOT educating the nation's children. Unfortunately, until we the people realize what the real problem is with the Government Schools - Unions that do not represent the education of students, their parents, nor the taxpayers, we cannot begin to fix the problem. It is like taking asprin for a headache when you have a brain tumor - might make you feel better for a time but you are only substituting a cure with a temporary remedy.
Lots of data and information school performance here with recommendations. Will things change? Don't know but I like what I see from achieve.
Does Achieve had a vested interest in this? You bet.
Created by the nation's governors and business leaders, Achieve, Inc., is a bipartisan, non-profit organization that helps states raise academic standards, improve assessments and strengthen accountability to prepare all young people for postsecondary education, work and citizenship.
Businesses are tired of finishing the education that schools should have done. It's expensive.
http://www.achieve.org/
"But, but but... Public Education is just as good as private"....
Ok guys... you get pissed when I tell you that subjecting your child to public education when you have the means to prevent it is child abuse as far as I am concerned... now argue with me again how I'm wrong?
something damn sure needs to. A high school diploma is virtually worthless today. When can you remember the last time an employer asked to see your diploma or contacted your high school for your transcripts? The ONLY two times in my life when I had to present them was when I entered the military, and when I entered college. Beyond that, nearly nobody with a high school diploma is occupying a job that a high school drop-out could not have acquired.