Thread: States lower standards for high school diplomas

States lower standards for high school diplomas

Critics say exit exams often fall short of officials’ ambitious goals
By Ian Urbina
updated 3:03 a.m. PT, Tues., Jan. 12, 2010

A law adopting statewide high school exams for graduation took effect in Pennsylvania on Saturday, with the goal of ensuring that students leaving high school are prepared for college and the workplace. But critics say the requirement has been so watered down that it is unlikely to have major impact.

The situation in Pennsylvania mirrors what has happened in many of the 26 states that have adopted high school exit exams. As deadlines approached for schools to start making passage of the exams a requirement for graduation, and practice tests indicated that large numbers of students would fail, many states softened standards, delayed the requirement or added alternative paths to a diploma.

People who have studied the exams, which affect two-thirds of the nation’s public school students, say they often fall short of officials’ ambitious goals.

“The real pattern in states has been that the standards are lowered so much that the exams end up not benefiting students who pass them while still hurting the students who fail them,â€

House Resolution No. 465 (seems to be against this)

http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/Leg ... 56&pn=2641

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Urging Governor Edward G. Rendell to cease funding of
implementation of high school graduation requirements until
the General Assembly establishes a policy by legislation,
requesting the Governor to impress upon his cabinet officials
involved in educational policy to regard the desires of the
citizens of Pennsylvania, recognizing that actions by public
officials that impede the democratic process will be
considered as actions in disregard of the officials' assigned
constitutional and statutory duties and in disregard of the
honor which their constituents have called these officials to
uphold, and asking the Independent Regulatory Review
Commission to consider whether proposed high school
graduation requirements have been given due consideration by
the General Assembly and by the Governor, in accordance with
the Regulatory Review Act, before a decision is made on
final-form regulation of high school graduation requirements.