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Friday, November 9, 2007
A New Graduation Test: Will It Lead To More Dropouts?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ve just spent all day working on an article about how the state may replace the old Georgia High School Graduation Tests with the newer series of End of Course Tests as a way to improve what’s being taught in public schools.
The switch would involve revising some of the current end-of-course tests, adding a few new ones and tying passage of those exams to a diploma.
The writing exam is the only portion of the current graduation test that would continue being used; the others would be eliminated.
The current high school testing program looks like this:
End of Course Tests: Algebra I, Geometry, U.S. History, Economics/Business/Free Enterprise, Biology, Physical Science, Ninth Grade Literature and Composition, American Literature and Composition
Georgia High School Graduation Tests: Writing, English language arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies
The proposed testing program would include:
End of Course Tests: Ninth Grade Literature, 10th Grade Literature, Math I, Math II, Biology, Physical Science or Physics, World History, U.S. History & American Government, Economics (optional for graduation)
Georgia High School Graduation Tests: Writing
Now this proposal is still in very preliminary stages. And, frankly, I think some state officials may be horrified that I’m writing about it. But, if approved, it could go into effect with entering freshmen in summer 2009 — not too far off for such a major shift.
The question: With kids doing so much more poorly, in general, on the end-of-course exams, would more of them be doomed to leaving high school without a diploma if they had to pass those tests to graduate?
UPDATE: I spoke to the graduation coach from Winder-Barrow High School, outside Athens, for my article. This was what he had to say about whether dropout rates would increase: “The factors that cause someone to drop out aren’t necessarily changing. We’re just talking about changing how they’re tested.”
