I have tried, unsuccessfully, to research the Chronicle of Higher Education, the subject of High School Diploma Endorsement. Given the strategic initiative mandated by the State Board of Education and the Colorado Commission on Higher Education to jointly adopt criteria indicating a high school student’s Postsecondary and Workforce Readiness (PWR), I am disappointed in the lack of attention to this subject. Although, I must admit that my navigation skills of online journals and publications are subpar at best. So, if any readers of this post are able to find any other links to this subject or shed light on the matter of the High School Diploma Endorsement initiative, I would eagerly welcome the resources.
As a part of this initiative, the Task Force is charged with developing criteria for high schools to adopt a High School Diploma Endorsement. An important note here is that the criteria being developed is for suggested use by high schools rather than to be required. Although, I am impressed with the idea of the adoption of High School Diploma Endorsement, I am hesitant to be fully supportive of a measure that would merely recommend criteria. The absence of a mandate, I fear, will leave too much open to interpretation and inconsistencies between high schools.
The idea behind the PWR High School Diploma Endorsement is that students who earn it would be deemed college and/or workforce ready. The goal is for students to meet minimum academic qualifications to enroll in Colorado public institutions of higher education, meet requirements for placement in college level courses without the need for completion of remedial courses. In addition, recipients of the High School Diploma would receive priority consideration, as long as basic admission criteria are met, for admission into highly selective Colorado higher education institutions.
I place this post under the "Really? This is unblievable..." heading because I am stumped as to how we ended up here. Perhaps I am simplifying the issue too much, but I cannot help but think that high school students should not be in need of remedial course work. How did we get here? Additional criteria under consideration include a high school student’s ability to demonstrate “extraordinary academic achievement.” Frankly, I would be thrilled if high school graduates could demonstrate entry level assessment proficiency in the areas of English, reading, and math much less exceed standards.
In the fall of 2008, 29.3% of incoming under age 20 college students in Colorado required remediation. At Colorado community colleges the number balloons dramatically to 52.7 %. In April, 2010, the Union Colony Preparatory in Greeley announced that the charter school would guarantee their graduates by paying for the remediation needs of their high school graduates within the first year after graduation. I know there are many things to take into consideration with this such as the demographics of the student population, access to the charter school, and the socio-economic status of the typical charter school student versus the public high school student. I am not minimizing the significance of the aforementioned disparities. However, I have to say that I find the accountability of the charter school’s administration to be refreshing. I appreciate their ability to put their money where their mouth is and I am hopeful that is the direction of the High School Endorsement task force.
Postsecondary and workforce readiness (PWR)--wow, that sounds intense even for high school students. Perhaps the Chronicle hasn’t published any information because the initiative has yet to pass in the districts (just my thoughts). So these particular high school graduates would be deemed prepared for college and for the workforce, but what type of workforce? They (CDE & CDHE) didn’t specify that hmm. I think the endorsement is a good idea because often students that are exceptional in high school get bored, so with this initiative, I think, gives them something to strive for. For these students, it is apparent they are ready for the next level. On the other hand, what about the students who are at the middle to lower end of their graduating class? Since grads with the endorsement will receive priority consideration, perhaps the gap of who is accepted into selective and moderately selective institutions will widen. This whole PWR endorsement can also fall under the category of college access. I wonder how many of those Union Colony grads will need remedial courses? To me, that was kind of an arrogant remark to say, and pretty bold, too. Either his charter school must have some serious funds or he adamantly stands behind the quality of his school’s instruction. I’m sure it’s the latter.
ReplyDeleteI thought the feedback to the questions the task force gave to the districts were interesting. Also, I did not realize districts in Colorado are currently using diploma endorsements--14% are using and 86% are not.
*Would your district consider using endorsements 77% said yes--23% said no.
*What’s the most important reason to adopt endorsed high school diplomas 38% said student engagement and incentives to enroll and succeed in postsecondary options--46% said opens more doors for students – enhance student eligibility for open, moderately selective Colorado colleges, concurrent enrollment options.
*What’s the most important reason not to adopt it and the survey said resources 49%. To me, that’s the “Really, this is unbelievable” issue because school districts are already scraping by to function and if this initiative passes, now they have to put time, energy, and find recourses from who knows where to comply. And what might end up happening is districts will be forced to cut physical ed, music, & art. With the statistics you provided of how many incoming students need remedial courses, it is apparent this initiative may not be in the best interest of ALL high school students. Gracias Janet ; )
Janet, I agree with you completely...someone who has graduated from high school shouldn't need remediation. As a fellow community college employee, we see such large numbers of new students each semester who need remediation; the most depressing are those who test BELOW the 030 level. I feel so very badly for them when I see those scores and I feel more than a moderate sense of irritation...how did they end up graduating from high school without the ability to really read?!?!
ReplyDeleteThe idea of the PWR endorsement seems like another waste of time and money to implement, when those resources could be directed to K-12 and the services needed by those students to exit high school being able to read, write and do basic math.