Spellings to focus on high schools

Washington Times ^ | Wednesday, February 9, 2005 | By George Archibald

[JohnHuang2]

THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Expanding the No Child Left Behind Act to help the nation's 15 million public high school students prepare for higher-paying jobs and college is the administration's top education priority this year, Education Secretary Margaret Spellings told The Washington Times yesterday. "We know that 75 [percent] to 80 percent of the fastest-growing jobs require at least two years of college, so we've got to ratchet up the level of accomplishment, and then, we need to broaden the number of people who are achieving that level of accomplishment" in ninth through 12th grade," Mrs. Spellings said. Nationally, almost one-third of all students entering ninth grade do not get out of high school, and of those who graduate, just one-fourth are in college after their first year, according to the latest Education Department data.

[ladylib]

Dear Mrs. Spellings:

Let high school students take college courses when they are of high school age if they want. Many kids are bored to death in high school and tired of putting up with all the crap they have to endure just to get through their day. They'd jump at the chance to get out. Let kids go to work if they want -- apprentice, take on-line courses or attend vocational schools.

Of course, you'll probably have to fight the "blob" and the teachers unions because they want what is best for themselves, not students:

http://www.nypost.com/news/regionalnews/39189.htm

Just stop putting up artificial roadblocks and get out of the way. Today's high school is obsolete and you really can't fix it unless you are willing to make radical changes.

[Smartaleck]

"Let high school students take college courses when they are of high school age if they want."

Isn't that what AP (advanced placement) courses are?

[ladylib]

Yeah, and they're taught in a high school and taught by high school teachers. I'm suggesting that students actually leave the high school campus and attend college -- a totally different atmosphere.

[Smartaleck]

"I'm suggesting that students actually leave the high school campus and attend college -- a totally different atmosphere."

Some AP programs, as I recall, do require an additional amount of time be spent on "hands on experience." Pre-med students work for a vet, hosp. etc. in addition to their course work.

Additionally, Texas or at least some school districts, do provide for HS students to study at a college campus.
The standards are high and not many qualify, but without high standards, making it easier would in all likelyhood be a dumming down of the program.

"The District may enter into an agreement with a public junior college that allows the junior college to offer a course in which a student attending a District high school may enroll and for which the student may receive both course credit toward high school graduation requirements and course credit as a junior college student. Such a student will receive junior college credit if the student has been admitted to the junior college or subsequently is admitted to the junior college. Education Code 130.008; 19 TAC 9.145

In accordance with rules established by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the District may enter into an agreement with a public university that allows a high school student to enroll in a college or university course and receive simultaneous academic credit for the course from both the college and the high school. 19 TAC 5.260-.263