Set up for failure? New standards, exams highlight school resource needs
by thenotebook on Oct 16 2013 Posted in Latest news
by Sara Neufeld, The Hechinger Report
After three years of stops and starts, the state of Pennsylvania is moving ahead with new public education standards and exams required for high school graduation. But without funding to implement the new mandates, educators in Philadelphia and other cash-strapped districts say their students are being set up for failure.
Many teachers, administrators, and advocates praise the Pennsylvania Core Standards for their emphasis on critical thinking and greater depth in fewer topics. They also like the idea of graduation exams to make sure a high school diploma has value. But they vehemently disagree with state officials’ contention that schools should not need additional resources to comply with the new requirements, since districts train teachers and revise curriculum routinely anyway.
“There isn’t enough money in Philadelphia to provide for basic instruction,” said Rosalind Jones-Johnson, education director for Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, predicting that the new exams will lead to an increased high school dropout rate and, consequently, increased poverty. “To mandate this and not
At SRC meeting, focus shifts from parent engagement to parent frustration
by Isaac Riddle In a Tuesday evening School Reform Commission meeting intended to discuss and encourage parental involvement, parents and community leaders vented their frustrations about the conditions in local schools and their feeling that they aren’t being included in the decision-making process at schools or the District. Image: Photo Credits: Isaac Riddle read more
Notes from the news, Oct. 16
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