Fw: ADP - American Diploma Project

["GERALD BRACEY" <gbracey1@verizon.net>]

I received an inquiry about the American Diploma Project.  What follows is 
my reply with a note that I would be sending it on to a listserv some of 
whose members might also have something to say.  ARN is that listserv.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "GERALD BRACEY" <gbracey1@verizon.net>
To: "Rosemary Knab" <RKnab@njea.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 9:19 AM
Subject: Re: ADP - American Diploma Project


> The American Diploma Project is part of the continued trend in some 
> quarters--notably by the Business Roundtable, to reduce education to mere 
> job preparation training.  It was sponsored by the conservative Thomas B. 
> Fordham Foundation (set up by Checker Finn's father and then given to 
> Checker), in league with Achieve, Inc.  Achieve is an entity spawned by 
> the education "summits" of the 1990's from which almost all educators were 
> excluded--only politicians, mostly governors, and businessmen were 
> invited. (I think educators should sponsor a "business summit" and then 
> tell American business how it should operate).
>
> A starting point was a survey where some 40% of graduates said they 
> weren't properly prepared for job/college experience.  No external 
> validation of these perceptions was obtained and the link between scores 
> in, say, math, and success on the job has not been, to the best of my 
> knowledge, established.  I see no way that high schools can prepare 
> students with the skills they need on the job because so many jobs require 
> highly specific skills, skills specific to one industry or task only.
>
> High school could be better articulated with college, but in my experience 
> college was always supposed to be a higher league.  If not, what's the 
> point?  Not everyone who can play AAA baseball can succeed in the majors. 
> The problem with this metaphor in the current culture is that college 
> degrees are tied to increased economic benefits in the future--although 
> less so than in the past (the propagandists for the "high-tech" workplace 
> and global marketplace would have you believe that it is more so).
>
> You can find most of the literature about ADP from Achieve's perspective 
> just by putting ADP into Google.  That might also provide you with some 
> information about what other states have opted to work with ADP and from 
> those you can obtain first-hand info.
>
> I will forward this message on to a listserv and some members thereon 
> might have further enlightening comments.
>
> Jerry Bracey
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Rosemary Knab" <RKnab@njea.org>
> To: <gbracey1@verizon.net>
> Sent: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 9:47 AM
> Subject: RE: ADP - American Diploma Project
>
>
> Thanks so much - My state president is looking to work with these folks - 
> I don't think she is aware that everything (or most) or what they say is 
> refutable.
>
> Have a safe trip - and thanks for the speedy reply.
>
> Rosemary Knab, Ph.D.
> NJEA Research Associate Director
> 180 West State Street
> P.O. Box 1211
> Trenton, NJ 08607-1211
> 609 599 4561 2202
> rknab@njea.org
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gbracey1@verizon.net [mailto:gbracey1@verizon.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 8:20 PM
> To: Rosemary Knab
> Subject: Re: ADP - American Diploma Project
>
> On the road now, will get back to you when I return on the 28th.
>
> Jerry Bracey
>
> > From: Rosemary Knab <RKnab@njea.org>
> > Date: Tue Feb 21 15:33:50 CST 2006
> > To: gbracey1@verizon.net
> > Subject: ADP - American Diploma Project
>
> > Gerald
> > Susan suggested I reach out to you.
> > What do you know about the American Diploma Project?
> > Do you have data to refute their assertion that American high schools are
> doing poorly?
> > Rosemary Knab, Ph.D.
> > NJEA Research Associate Director
> > 180 West State Street
> > P.O. Box 1211
> > Trenton, NJ 08607-1211
> > 609 599 4561 2202
> > rknab@njea.org
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Susan Ohanian [mailto:susano@gmavt.net]
> > Sent: Tuesday, February 21, 2006 2:22 PM
> > To: Rosemary Knab
> > Subject: Re: [News from Susan Ohanian] New Content at SusanOhanian.Org!
> >
> > Rosemary,
> >
> > I've posted quite a few nasty things about it. I mean,  when you have
> > Achieve, the Education Trust, the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation, and the
> > National Alliance for Business  joining hands. . . . (I think the latter
> > has now morphed into some other entity, but they were in on the start of
> > the American Diploma Project.
> >
> > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.html?id=3770
> > http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=121
> > http://susanohanian.org/outrage_fetch.php?id=329
> > http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_news.html?id=294
> > http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.html?id=426
> > http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.html?id=745
> >
> > Of course I'm biased. They advocate higher standards. And I invented the
> > term Standardisto.
> >
> > Here's the view of a savvy Maryland mom.
> > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.html?id=3798
> >
> >
> > I advise you to ask Gerald Bracey. My experience is he has a vast amount
> > of knowledge, is willing to share what he knows, and he tells the truth
> > (even when I disagree with him). He's traveling for the next week or so
> > but seems to be checking his e-mail.
> >
> > gbracey1@verizon.net
> >
> > Susan
> >
> > Rosemary Knab wrote:
> >
> > > Susan"
> > >
> > > What is your opinion of ADP - American Diploma Project?  Our state
> association is looking into embracing this program.  I am concerned that 
> we
> aren't seeing the whole picture.
> > > Your thoughts?
> > >
> > > Rosemary Knab, Ph.D.
> > > NJEA Research Associate Director
> > > 180 West State Street
> > > P.O. Box 1211
> > > Trenton, NJ 08607-1211
> > > 609 599 4561 2202
> > > rknab@njea.org
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: announce-owner@susanohanian.org [mailto:announce-
> owner@susanohanian.org] On Behalf Of Susan Ohanian
> > > Sent: Monday, February 20, 2006 7:17 PM
> > > To: announce@susanohanian.org
> > > Subject: [News from Susan Ohanian] New Content at SusanOhanian.Org!
> > >
> > >
> > > Thank Yvonne for the many items.
> > >
> > > Yours truly was attacked in the Washington Post. Maybe that should have
> been posted as good news.
> > > Susan
> > >
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > A Well Cordinated Campaign
> > > Ken Goodman
> > > e-mail list
> > > 2006-02-20
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=5484
> > >
> > > Ken Goodman offers a concise statement of what's happening to public
> education.
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > Why are PPS School Board members attending seminars at a right-wing think
> tank?
> > > Press Release
> > > Neighborhood Schools Allisance
> > > 2006-02-20
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=5483
> > >
> > > Portland education group uncovers a lot of information about Broad.
> > >
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > Kansas Assessments Coming Soon to All Schools
> > > staff
> > > InfoZine
> > > 2006-02-20
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=5482
> > >
> > > Students in elementary, junior and senior high are getting prepared for 
> > > the
> annual Kansas Assessments, and rather remarkable claims for the benefits 
> of
> computer testing are given.
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > Media Cover-up: Leading Journalists Expose Major Cover-ups in Media
> > > staff
> > > WantToKnow.info
> > > 0000-00-00
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=5481
> > >
> > > Read about courageous writers were prevented by corporate media ownership
> from reporting major news stories.
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > Extreme responses to scholastic issues seem to work against student
> progress
> > > Editorial
> > > The Brownsville Herald
> > > 2006-02-19
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=5480
> > >
> > > Editorialists come down on the side of standardized testing but 
> > > acknowledge
> that some students don't test well.
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > Early lunch leads to 'grazing'
> > > Genaro C. Armas, Associated Press
> > > Washington Times
> > > 2006-02-20
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=5479
> > >
> > > Absurdly early lunch periods lead to unhealthy student grazing.
> > >
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > Testing? YES! -- Standardized testing? NO!
> > > Marion Brady
> > > Orlando Sentinel
> > > 2006-02-19
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=5478
> > >
> > > Remember Richard Feynman? Free spirit? Drummer? Adventurer? Teller of 
> > > funny
> stories? Artist? Expert safe cracker? Writer? College professor? 
> Translator
> of Mayan hieroglyphics? Member of the team that developed the atomic bomb?
> Major contributor to the theory of quantum electrodynamics? Winner of the
> Nobel Prize in Physics in 1965?
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > Schools without Teachers--a Hidden Scandal
> > > Kitty Kelly Epstein
> > > Alternatives in Education
> > > 2005-06-15
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=5477
> > >
> > > Observing that the added bureaucratic licensing requirements prevent many
> urban students from having any teachers at all, Epstein argues that
> standardized teacher exams  are expensive, capricious and measure nothing
> about teaching. She rebuts those who advocate doing away with teacher
> preparation courses by noting that those who teach the multilingual,
> multiclass population of California need more, rather than less, 
> preparation
> in interactive and interesting teaching methods.
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > Eat, Memory: Sacré Cordon Bleu!
> > > Julia Child with Alex Prud'homme
> > > New York Times
> > > 2006-02-21
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=5476
> > >
> > > With her usual verve, Julia Child reflected on failing a cooking test.
> > >
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > Standards Reform, Federal Law, and the American Diploma Project: A
> Framework for Making Legally Sound Decisions
> > > Arthur L. Coleman & Scott R. Palmer
> > > The American Diploma Project
> > > 0000-00-00
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=5475
> > >
> > > The American Diploma Project gets legal advice about how they can move
> ahead without breaking the law.
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > County Examines Strategies to Raise SAT Scores
> > > Ian Shapira
> > > Washington Post
> > > 2006-02-19
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=5474
> > >
> > > Prompted by lagging SAT scores, the Prince William County school system 
> > > is
> looking to an algebra fix.
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > After Welfare
> > > Katerine Boo
> > > The New Yorker
> > > 2001-04-09
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=5473
> > >
> > > Boo introduces Elizabeth Jones, a former welfare mother who works two 
> > > jobs-
> one as a Washington D.C. police officer-to support her three children.
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > 'We Must Show Every Child the Light'
> > > various authors
> > > Los Angeles Times
> > > 2006-02-19
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_atrocities.php?id=5472
> > >
> > > The Los Angeles Times' recent series about high school dropouts 
> > > generated
> at strong response from readers, more than 200 of whom posted their 
> thoughts
> on an online message board that accompanied the series. Suggestions ranged
> from the general (more parental involvement) to the specific (throw out 
> the
> calculators!), from the left (spend more) to the right (issue private 
> school
> vouchers). Here are some of their ideas, reprinted with editing.
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > The Impact of High Stakes Testing
> > > Kathy Emery
> > >
> > > 2006-02-20
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_commentary.php?id=366
> > >
> > > Kathy Emery explains why critics of high stakes testing are so easily
> painted into a corner.
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > Book Review: A Different View of Urban Schools: Civil Rights, Critical 
> > > Race
> Theory, and Unexplored Realities
> > > Henry Hitz
> > >
> > > 2006-02-20
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_commentary.php?id=365
> > >
> > > A new book by Kitty Kelly Epstein offers a profile of what's going on in
> the Oakland, CA schools.
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > Oregon: Neighborhood Schools Alliance
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_resources.html?id=103
> > >
> > > Take a look at the community alliance formed in Portland, Oregon.
> > >
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > To the editor
> > > multiple authors
> > > Sacramento Bee
> > > 2006-02-19
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_letters.html?id=672
> > >
> > > Here we have a range of letters over the issue of requiring students to
> pass a high stakes test to receive a diploma.
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > No Child Left Behind
> > >
> > > WNCT Channel 9
> > > 2006-02-16
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.html?id=1845
> > >
> > > In North Carolina last year only 56-percent met the strict requirements 
> > > to
> be considered passing under the no child left behind act.
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > No Child Left Un-recruited
> > > Aviva Ariel
> > > AlterNet
> > > 2006-02-20
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.html?id=1844
> > >
> > > Although I've always felt the effects of NCLB on a student's education 
> > > have
> been about as productive as our search for Osama bin Laden, this was the
> first time that my personal life was directly influenced by the 
> government's
> legislation.
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > State delaying new report card
> > > Beverly Creamer
> > > Honolulu Advertiser
> > > 2006-02-15
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.html?id=1843
> > >
> > > Like other states, Hawai'i has gone backwards, because of the NCLB Act.
> > >
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > Manual students caught in a whirlpool
> > > Tina Griego
> > > Rocky Mountain News
> > > 2006-02-20
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.html?id=1842
> > >
> > > The tough reality of closing a school in Denver
> > >
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > Teach to the Test
> > > Jay Mathews
> > > Washington Post
> > > 2006-02-20
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.html?id=1841
> > >
> > > Mathews thinks Ohanian is misguided.
> > >
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > Schools czar charges hard for No Child Left Behind
> > > Robert Dodge, Dallas News
> > > Charlotte Observer
> > > 2006-02-19
> > > http://susanohanian.org/show_nclb_atrocities.html?id=1840
> > >
> > > One more attempt to Norman Rockwellize Margaret Spellings.
> > >
> > > \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
> > > A Modest Proposal
> > >
> > >
> > > 2006-02-13
> > > http://susanohanian.org/cartoon_fetch.php?id=0
> > >
> > >
> > > ----------------------------------------------------
> > > Order the CD of the resistance:
> > > "No Child Left Behind? Bring Back the Joy."
> > > To order online (and hear samples from the songs)
> > > http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dhbdrake4
> > > Other orders: Send $15 to
> > > Susan Ohanian
> > > P. O. Box 370
> > > Charlotte, VT 05445
> > > ----------------------------------------------------
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> > > http://susanohanian.org/lists/announce/subscribe.html
> > > ----------------------------------------------------
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