NCLB is modeled after the Texas’ standards-based accountability system. Rice University and University of Texas have published a study documenting one of the unintended consequences of this type of system, a greatly increased dropout rate.
Bror’s Blog presents a great summary of how rules that seem reasonable have produced some very sad results. It seems pressure on administrators does not translate into better education for kids.
Within a year or two, retention rates in ninth grade skyrocketed in schools - as reported in the study, in one school from 25% of ninth graders in one year to more than 50% of ninth graders within two years, and overall withdrawal rates from high school leapt, e.g. from 19% of kids to 40% of kids in one school!
Can you imagine 50% of 9th graders are dropping out? Incredible. A system that purposes to improve graduation rates actually produces the opposite results.
It makes sense since the high-stakes exam is in 10th grade. Schools and administrators are highly rewarded or penalized based upon those exam results. So, the consequence is they limit access to the exam to those whom they know will do OK. That means some students spend a lot of time in 9th grade retaking courses they haven’t passed along with courses they have passed! How frustrating that must be for a teen!
Personally, I like the idea of having reasonable standards. It’s the way we teach our own kids at home. We don’t move on until we’ve mastered what’s before us. So, how do I know if my child has learned and understood? I have to assess that somehow. At home, it usually is some sort of discussion or narrative or seeing if all the math problems are correct. If some concept is not understood I can be very flexible. I can rework the unit on ratios but a student in a brick and mortar school has to retake the whole course in pre-algebra. How painful.
So, we’re back to the heart of the matter. How can we ensure that kids get a solid education? That teachers teach what’s important and not the latest fad?
We haven’t seen similar consequences on a national level as a result of NCLB. Yet. But, I see no reason it can’t happen in other states including Alaska.
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