Early high school graduation program raises concerns
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More than one million college freshmen must take remedial courses to satisfy requirements every year, but a new plan for high school students will look to ensure basic skills are mastered before graduation.
A new program organized by the National Center on Education and the Economy soon will implement a program in dozens of high schools in eight states in an attempt to propel students toward college faster.
High-performing educational systems in nations such as Denmark, England and Singapore inspired the trial of the new program in the United States. The system will allow 10th-graders to take standardized tests to prove their mastery of high school curriculum. If they pass, they’ll earn their diplomas and an opportunity to go directly to community college. The tests, known as board exams, will include English, math, science and history. Students who pass the test also will be given the option to continue in college preparatory classes in the last two years of high school if they wish to move on to a more selective college. This all according to The New York Times.
Although the program might help students fully learn the curriculum, the program raises a few concerns. Students participating in the program could enjoy the chance for freedom. Some teenagers are ready for the academic rigors of college by the time they are sophomores in high school, and, if given a chance, might prosper in the college environment. If the students want to move on to college and have shown they are capable, why stop them?
The social immaturity in early high school students might hinder the system from taking off. Immersing them into a college environment so early could cause problems with handling the pressures of school work and life. Although the board exams easily can test the intelligence level of teenagers, there is no accurate way to gauge the maturity levels that might indicate the student is ready to move on to college. The schools still will offer advanced placement and other college preparatory classes for students who aren’t ready for the move out of high school.
Students who aren’t able to pass the tests after sophomore year will continue with their normal high school classes and could take the tests again after their junior and senior years. But removing the students who pass the tests from their peers might stifle discussions in classes and make learning more challenging. Often, the more intelligent students are the ones who ignite the learning process in class and help others learn from their questions and comments.
The plan might devalue the students who cannot pass the board exams on their first try. Will the students be held to a lower standard than those who have passed? Students who struggle with the exams should not see failing a test as a signal they won’t succeed in life. As long as the plan is designed to help those who cannot pass and bring them to an equal level, the system could work.
The best way would be to overhaul the system starting in elementary school. Many of the problems within public education begin in the early stages. If kids fall behind in early elementary years, they are more likely to struggle for the rest of their schooling and might not begin to show it until high school and college.
Although this isn’t the perfect way to fix the United States’ education system, if the potential flaws in the program can be adequately handled and the trial shows the system can work, the new plan might just help students meet requirements.
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Hmmmmmm
(02/22/10 7:18am)Report
This would be a good idea, if our public school system weren’t borderline worthless.
I was home schooled. I began taking college classes when I was 14, and started getting credit towards my college degree when I was 16. By the time I was 16, I was taking care of most of my high school-required topics at college, and had minimal high school-level work to do.
At the same time that I did this, there were local public high school students enrolled in the program as well.
The only public school systems that made the cut were the BEST students – 4 or 5 students from each graduating year that were willing to put an extraordinary amount of work in to get where they wanted to be.
A majority of public school kids won’t be able to do this. They are practically worthless as it is, most are entering college with zero work experience because they would rather screw off during the summer than get a j-o-b.
Roughly 40% of the students that I encounter on a daily basis should not be in college. They should have been disqualified entrance due to their high school performance, or kicked out after their freshman year performance. Unfortunately, the school needs money, so this isn’t going to happen.
The only way a program like this would work is if we hold these kids to high standards, and uphold those standards. Otherwise, it just sounds like a way for high school kids to start going to college parties early.
Speaking of which, they need to start revoking drivers licenses for MIP’s.
@Hmmmmmm
(02/22/10 9:17am)Report
Out of curiosity how old are you now, are you still in college and what was, or is your major? You obviously have worked extremely hard to get to were you are at. I see that you are very goal driven. Do you give yourself down time to just have fun, to de-stress a bit?
Wow
(02/22/10 2:43pm)Report
Interesting idea but what happens when someone graduates college two years earlier than normal? That would make them 20 (give or take a year.) Do you think an employer is going to hire a 20-year-old to make serious decisions? The answer is no.
@Hmmmmm:
You have some serious issues. You bash on public schools yet you were home schooled. You should be angry at your parents for giving you such a unsocial life. Anyone who is home schooled or starts college at 14(questionable) missed out on some key adolescent growing experience. This probably explains why you are so angry.
True Spartan
(02/22/10 11:40pm)Report
@hmmm
As someone who is homeschooled, you have no right to talk about the public school system! It is more than likely the bull your parents fed you that you simply regurgitate to seem far superior. I’m actually surprised you’re a Spartan with your arrogance. Go to UM, where there will be students “of your caliber” so you won’t have to associate with us bottomfeeding public school alum.
Jaron Alfard
(02/23/10 12:41am)Report
While early college can challenge and accelerate the learning of many high school students, OEA believes that most students and families will be best served if public high schools and colleges collaborate to offer challenging 70-562 courses for college credit at the local school. This would be a much better use of existing resources, and it would protect students from costly home-to-school-to-college travel. Tuition for the year would be paid for by the program.Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor Eric D. Fingerhut is trying to fast-track the program to make it available to as many high school seniors across Ohio this fall as possible. The pilot programs will be evaluated in 2009 for greater expansion the following school year.
70-536 exam
Hah
(02/23/10 12:47am)Report
I can just see it now…“Student arrested for statutory rape, claims she said she was a college student and was at a party…”