Our high school achievement crisis is finally getting some well-deserved attention. Both President Bush and Secretary Paige have underscored the need to apply the principles of No Child Left Behind to our high school students as soon as possible. National education organizations are also pushing for reforms at the high school level. Achieve, Inc., a nonprofit organization created by the nation’s governors (and highlighted earlier this week on the NCEA website), has recently released a report indicating that few of our high school students leave school with the knowledge they need to succeed in the business world. In an effort to restore value to the high school diploma, Achieve has established the American Diploma Project — connecting what it takes to earn a diploma to what it takes to compete successfully beyond high school. In addition, Ed Trust has recently released a report indicating that, while progress has been made in reading and math in the elementary grades, student achievement in the middle and high school grades is lagging.
Even in our own state, the establishment of the New Schools Project (a collaboration of the Governor’s Education Cabinet and the Public School Forum, backed by an $11 million grant from the Gates Foundation) affirms growing recognition among state leaders that many of North Carolina’s high schools are failing. This private/public partnership seeks to focus leadership and financial resources on reforming our state’s high schools. And in October of 2004, the North Carolina State Board of Education adopted new high school exit standards.
Focus group meetings are currently taking place around the state, and an online survey solicits public comment.
As recently as last Tuesday, some North Carolina high schools were the focus of high-profile, critical attention. According to the Charlotte Observer, Superior Court Judge Manning requested that Charlotte Mecklenburg School officials, along with other educators, explain why some high schools are performing poorly. I can only surmise what reasons will be given. I expect to hear the typical education establishment blob excuses of “not enough money,” or “too many poor or difficult children.” Education experts have long used school inputs — both money and student backgrounds — to explain away school outcomes.
Yet, research has consistently shown the error of this kind of thinking. In fact, the Organization for Economic Development recently released a study showing that America spends more on education — and gets less — than any other country, including economically developed nations. And the Teachability Index from Dr. Jay Greene of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, does a good job of addressing the “poor student” excuse. The Teachability Index gives us a reasonably accurate picture of the advantages and disadvantages that students bring to school, how those challenges have changed over time, how they vary from place to place, and how we can address them.
I wonder if anyone will tell Judge Manning that science, government, and many other subjects are often not assessed before 9th grade — way too late to confirm whether a student has learned basic concepts. Will low, minimal cut scores for third through eighth grade annual tests be discussed? Will complicated teacher certification and licensing issues, the lack of a merit pay-plan for teachers, and all the state-regulated funding streams be discussed? Finally, will the emphasis on political correctness and the departure from high academic content be revealed? While I am not optimistic that these core issues will be addressed, I am heartened by the growing (and very public) sense of alarm over poor high school achievement in our state and in our country.
On other fronts, I encourage you to log on to the Alliance’s website daily. The NCEA seeks to keep you informed on current education issues, highlighting recent national and state headlines as well as the latest research reports on education. This week, the NCEA website features a January 2005 Friedman Report profile, evaluating my work on behalf of school choice. In addition, starting today, my weekly e-letter will be posted on the website. Please encourage others to go to www.nceducationalliance.org to learn about education news, both locally and nationally.
Partnering with you for quality education in North Carolina,
Lindalyn Kakadelis