California Dreaming, Part N+3

[George Sheridan <learn@jps.net>]

The Superintendent of Public Instruction who oversees the schooling of ten 
percent of all U.S. students says we must make it dramatically more 
difficult to graduate from high school.

California State Superintendent Jack O'Connell says that all students 
should meet the requirements for admission to the University of California, 
long the nation's top public university system and one that is mandated to 
admit only the top twelve and a half percent of high school graduates.

O'Connell reaffirmed his commitment to the state's assessment and 
accountability program. He pledged to "lead the fight to increase the gains 
in student performance made over the last five years by protecting 
California's accountability system." He further promised to "retain, 
support, and expand those programs that are working to improve student 
achievement (our intervention teams at low performing schools, for example)."

Teachers whose schools have been subjected to "intervention" have 
frequently reported that the process not only failed to assist them in 
improving instruction, but often has been a major obstacle to real 
improvement. Publishing their findings this month on the state assessment 
and accountability program, three respected research organizations 
will  report that the Immediate Intervention/Underperforming Schools 
(II/USP) program has been a failure. Bringing in external evaluators for a 
few meetings - the typical model of intervention - has been completely 
ineffective.

***

Stricter grad rules urged
All students should take rigorous high school classes, says state education 
chief.
By Bill Lindelof and Deb Kollars -- Bee Staff Writers
Published Thursday, February 12, 2004
http://www.sacbee.com/content/news/story/8254465p-9185098c.html

To graduate, all high school students would have to complete tougher course 
requirements -- now only required of the college-bound -- under a proposal 
to improve high schools outlined Wednesday by state Superintendent of 
Public Instruction Jack O'Connell.

The change would be a huge challenge for public schools. Currently, fewer 
than half the state's high school graduates complete the rigorous "A-G" 
course lineup required to enter state universities.

<SNIP>

O'Connell said expectations are too low in high schools. He plans to 
sponsor a legislative package needed to put his proposals into practice, 
designed to improve the quality of teachers and principals, and expand 
programs that push teenagers harder.

It also would give high schools more flexibility in spending the money they 
do have in the budget -- an amount that includes $450 million in block 
grants for specific categorical programs -- in ways that best meet 
O'Connell's goals.

The most dramatic change would involve requiring every high school student 
to complete "A-G" requirements, a strict list of courses that students must 
pass if they want to get into the University of California or California 
State University systems.

The requirements include: four years of English; three years of college 
preparatory math; two years each of laboratory science, a foreign language 
and history/social science; and one year each of art and approved college 
prep electives.

Many districts already require a similar number of courses for graduation, 
but not as many of the classes must be at the tougher college-preparatory 
level.

Russlynn Ali, director of the Education Trust, a nonprofit group dedicated 
to poor and minority students, said in a statement that too few California 
students complete the A-G sequence.

"Students are channeled into low-level classes that don't adequately 
prepare them for entry into more apprentice and vocational programs, or for 
admission to college," Ali said.
<SNIP>

George Sheridan