Sent to the Santa Monica Mirror, Dec 19, 2009
State Senator Fran Pavley noted that the state legislature needs to cut $6 billion from the budget in the next few months ("Pavley On State Budget Crisis," Dec. 17-23). Here is a way of accomplishing nearly 10% of that right away, and with additional savings each year: Dump the high school exit exam. Studies of high school exit exams show that they are useless: They do not lead to higher employment, higher earnings, or improved academic achievement. In fact, researchers have yet to discover any benefits of having a high school exit exam.
Stephen Krashen
Sources:
Warren, J.R., Grodsky, E., and Lee, J, 2008. "State High School Exit Examinations and Post-Secondary Labor Market Outcomes." Sociology of Education, 81: 77-107
Grodsky, E., Warren, J.R., and Kalogrides, D. 2009.
"State High School Exit Examinations and NAEP Long-Term Trends in Reading and Mathematics, 1971-2004." Educational Policy, 23 (4): 589-614
EXACTLY. Here in Milwaukee everybody's all abuzz about the RTTT money. Trying to push mayoral takeover of the schools in fact, in an effort to 'compete' for the cash. It's a one time payment. The federal mandates that would follow would cost more than the sum given. Our students are tested to death. I've been teaching for 8 years. I love my students, but the system is breaking my spirit. I'm so tired. So done with it. We MUST have a teacher revolution. If enough of us REFUSED to pass out the tests change might come. We need to do this for our students. Enough of private taking from public - with no accountability, might I add. Who's overseeing the billion dollar testing industry?
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