In order to improve educational quality in California, the California Department of Education created an exit exam. Beginning with the class of 2006, all students were required to pass the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE). This exam added an additional barrier for students to graduate from high school. After looking at both sides of this exam, positive and negative, my conclusion is that CAHSEE is a waste of time, money and effort. Even though all students are required to pass a specific number of classes necessary for graduation, California still spends a large amount of money on administering this test. This money could be spent more efficiently: supporting kids with disabilities, low-income families, and English learners. After all, a larger percentage of these students do not pass CAHSEE. These funds could instead be used to operate afterschool programs that have been cut due to a lack of funding. How our children perform in the class room is a better indicator of whether or not they should graduate high school.
Former State Superintendent Jack O’Connell authored the legislation that created the exit exam when he was a state senator in 1999. The purpose of this exam as stated by the California Department of Education is “to identify students who are not developing skills that are essential for life after high school.” This determines if students’ knowledge and skills are relative to entry-level employment are adequate. Students are tested on
Although legislatives assumption was that high stakes testing would enhance understudy inspiration, and raise understudy accomplishment, that supposition was completely incorrect. The effect of standardized testing (high-stakes testing) has not been positive throughout the United States at all. Due to the lack of motivation, the high retention rate, and notable change in dropout rate, it may be a while until many states recover, especially for states like Louisiana. According to Nola, Louisiana is tied with Florida for having one of the country’s fifth lowest graduation rates, and one of the highest dropout rates. Our society needs to come together and think of a plan that will help students, and prevent the increasing number of kids who decide to give up on school. A system that will benefit both students, and teachers should be created; making it better for both, students and teachers to work together properly. With a new system student motivation may improve, the number of over aged students sitting in the wrong grade will decrease, and the notable dropout rate will actually
While standards and assessments tell us whether students are gaining the skills and knowledge they need, accountability systems say that if they aren’t, schools and districts have to take steps to improve. This expectation of action is critical if we want all students to graduate high school ready for whatever they wish to do next – be it attend college, train for a job that will allow them to support a
Education plays an important role in every person’s future. Not only does it enhance a person’s intellect, but it allows them to discover what they want to become. For the past years, high school students were having trouble graduating and when Texas ranked the lowest in the population that received a high school diploma, the state decided to minimize the amount of exams students had to pass. Although Texas students became successful in graduating, this way of graduating harms the student because they were unable to understand the basics in their education. The reduction of End-of-course exams from fifteen to five and later to three motivate students, but also teaches them that they don’t need to work hard.
Across the United States, high school students can encounter a variety of issues that hinder their ability to successfully complete course work to earn the required credits towards graduation. High schools across the United States have an obligation to ensure that students are achieving and receiving a diploma. It is also in the school’s best interest to ensure students are gradating both funding wise and for the overall school rating. When a student does not receive a high school diploma the action affects the student, community and the school. High school dropouts may find it harder to obtain a job that would provide a stable and productive income verses a high school graduate thus, the financial disadvantage in turn can cause
Although California Department of Education would argue that the California High School Exit Exam is an effective way to evaluate student progress,some parents, teachers, and California public high school graduates wonder if this test creates a better education system or hinders a student's performance.
Texas schools are experiencing an epidemic in meeting the state graduation goals for some subgroups of students. The school districts are reporting their data which shows a decrease in graduation rates and high increase in retention rates from 2012-2016. According to Texas Education Agency (2017), “The longitudinal graduation and dropout rates for 2012-13 fall semester, 378,286 students began Grade 9 in public schools and in three years and increased by 24,048 students in the 9th grade cohort (p.xi). Further reports, a total of 47,504 students removed from the system for other reasons instead of completing graduation requirement “(p.xi).
The article “Use the Common Core. Use It Widely. Use It Well” by William E. (Brit) Kirwan, Timothy P. White, and Nancy Zimpher states that many high school graduates lack the skills needed to enter and succeed at college level courses. Though the writers list much support of Common Core State Standards there is also political resistance and assessment difficulties. Colleges and students are using many unnecessary dollars to bring high school graduates up to college entry level standards. This national problem affects all areas of the country and the cost of not finding a solution to improving student success in college and vocational training could be detrimental to society.
At a town hall meeting during the March 11th California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA) annual conference, panel members openly spoke about the transformation to the way California would fund education for the nine million public school students it serves. This panel discussion offered various stakeholder viewpoints around the Local Control Funding Formula and the Local Control Accountability Plan. Each member of the panel contributed honestly about LCFF and LCAP as it relates to the states vision of moving forward in trying to close the achievement gap for all students.
Like an epidemic terrorizing the western hemisphere, the Common Core State Standards program has swept across our nation, and at each stop, threatened a new way of thinking and living. These standards were created to ensure that more students graduated from high school with the skills to succeed in college, life, and career, no matter where they might live (About the Standards). In 2009, this fresh new take on education was launched to each state’s educational leaders in the U. S. The state officials each decided whether the implementation of the program was beneficial for them, or if the technique they were currently using was the best option. However, even though state authorities have control of their individual educational standards,
The dropout problem is not only an individual problem, but it is costly to society as a whole. Warren & Halpen-Manners (2007) explained, “high school dropouts is of fundamental social, economic, and political importance and has major implications for educational policy and practice, patterns of economic and racial/ethnic inequality, and the quality of America’s workforce” (p. 335). Coupled with that, Neild et al (2008) further argued going through the portal into adult life without high school credentials carries severe economic and employment penalties. Also, Kennelly (2007) explained “When students drop out…. the toll of the quality of life and the prosperity and competitiveness of the communities where they live and collectively across
An exit examination is a test that students must pass to receive a diploma and graduate from high school in the United States. These are usually criterion referenced tests which were implemented as part of a comprehensive standards based education reform program which sets into place new standards intended to increase the learning of all students. When any test is directly tied to significant consequences, such as determining whether the student may receive a high school diploma, it is called a high stakes test. Many organizations such as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics oppose high stakes tests in general, with the NCTM saying that "placing too much emphasis on a single test or on testing can undermine the quality of education and jeopardize equality of
Did you know that 1.2 million high school students drop out of school every year just in the United States alone (11 Facts)? The decrease of high school graduation rates is a fairly important issue, and there are plenty of reasons to propose a change. According to the U.S. Department of Education, the current standard dropout rate of high school students is 7.4%. High school dropouts encounter way more difficulties and challenges than a high school graduate would. An average high school drop out lacks the basic education that one needs in order to be successful in life. They are more likely to face problems dealing with financial insecurity, communication skills, and of course, educational matters. With a high school diploma, one is more likely to get hired for a job, earn a higher income, and educate oneself even further. Some possible causes of high school students dropping out include stress, boredom, family problems, pregnancies, and drugs. With that said, with every issue, there is always a solution. By taking the problem at hand and looking at it from a broad perspective, we can thoroughly identify the source of the high dropout rates of U.S. high school students. There are countless factors that may be the cause of this epidemic, but a few ideas including making learning more relevant, limiting the workload given to students, and providing mandatory classes on drugs and safe sex may possibly be a solution to this
An exit exam is a test in which students must pass in order to graduate from high school and receive a diploma. “This is a test in which students must demonstrate their mastery of basic academic skills. In 2009, 24 states required high school students to take a standardized exit exam in order to receive their diplomas. As more and more states add an exit exam to graduation requirements, some educational policy researchers have been questioning the fairness and effectiveness of such tests. An exit exam or exit examination is a test a student may be required to take in order to show proficiency in a class, in a major subject in college, or as in the case with high school to exhibit basic proficiency in math and English
The No Child Left Behind Act should tremendously be re-examined and amended because the focus on the standardized tests decrease the quality of other subjects not on the tests, the tests are not an efficient tool to make certain that a student is receiving an excellent education and the tests create unnecessary stress for the students, teachers and administrators. The purpose of No Child Left Behind is to provide every student with the opportunity to receive a top-grade education. This is a great proposal to strive towards but, legislation plans on achieving this proposal by making schools responsible for their students’ proficiency and to measure their proficiency with the use of standardized tests. After the students take the
End of course exams and other school required test are a waste of money. For example, according to the Center on Education Policy, it costs Indiana, a state with an exit exam of average difficulty, $557 per student to maintain the state’s current level of performance on the exam. For teachers to learn how to effectively prepare students to pass the high school exit exam, they may need additional training, which means additional cost. Massachusetts spends an additional $101 per student, while Minnesota spends $3 per student; costs for training vary from state to state. All around these tests are a burden on school