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It doesn't happen. MD State Department of Education has not been shy in denying diplomas to students (MD education is top down, localities have very little control over curriculum or testing). Some parents tried a couple decades ago with our first iteration of exit exams. Some examples were made in the Court system, everyone else fell into line.
Right, but what about these state tests that are taken in grades 3-8 that are not exit/graduation exams? That's the point I'm making. These tests have no bearing on a student's future whatsoever and they're not used to decided if a student should be retained. If mass amounts of students/families refuse to take these tests, I'm not sure that the states can do anything...or I should say that most of their options are unpalatable.
Right, but what about these state tests that are taken in grades 3-8 that are not exit/graduation exams? That's the point I'm making. These tests have no bearing on a student's future whatsoever and they're not used to decided if a student should be retained. If mass amounts of students/families refuse to take these tests, I'm not sure that the states can do anything...or I should say that most of their options are unpalatable.
The ironic things is No Child Left Behind is the product of bipartisanship and an example of what can be achieved when both sides of the isle come together.
Senator Kennedy said it is his legacy and President Bush said we can all take pride in working together to make it a reality.
Maybe the moral is to be careful what you wish for... especially when it comes to politics.
Interesting. I still think that if a critical mass were reached, it would be hard for those in authority to do much of anything in response.
You're correct but critical mass won't be reached in most cases. The reason being is that "everyone" knows that public schools today are ****ty and the only way to "fix" them is to have "accountability".
Keep in mind that education is just about the only job that the people who actually do the job, teachers, aren't recognized as experts in it.
You're correct but critical mass won't be reached in most cases. The reason being is that "everyone" knows that public schools today are ****ty and the only way to "fix" them is to have "accountability".
Keep in mind that education is just about the only job that the people who actually do the job, teachers, aren't recognized as experts in it.
You're preaching to the choir. Rather than teachers unions, perhaps educators need to have a respected professional organization that is analogous to the AMA or ABA that is influential in all matters regarding education policy (and incidentally less involved in other non-educational political matters).
Right, but what about these state tests that are taken in grades 3-8 that are not exit/graduation exams? That's the point I'm making. These tests have no bearing on a student's future whatsoever and they're not used to decided if a student should be retained. If mass amounts of students/families refuse to take these tests, I'm not sure that the states can do anything...or I should say that most of their options are unpalatable.
Because it would take coordination and effort. That will not happen.
Complaining and waiting for someone else to fix it is reality.
One year we had a death in the family and had to fly out of town.
It was during Texas state test week.
The grief I got when I told school he would not be there.
They actually asked if the funeral could be changed !
This was 5th grade I think..we're talking about 2002/2003 timeframe.
I had to bring back a boatload of "official" papers proving we went to a funeral.
This was one test that didn't count for promotion.
For every kid that doesn't take the test the Fed comes down hard on the schools.
There's no carrots in NCLB..it's all sticks, punishments and withholding of money.
The kids themselves are pawns in a political game.
So why did it become law and celebrated as an example of what can be achieved when politics is put aside?
My dad left education before I was born... even then he became disenfranchised because it was more about the process than the students...
Because that's how government works. Dog and pony show propaganda for policy that is rarely effective. The celebration was because they did something, not because the something they did made any sense.
The celebration was because they did something, not because the something they did made any sense.
*Taps on nose*
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