School Board Hears New Graduation Option
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At-risk students may soon have another path to graduation that takes into account personal hardship, says one Moore County school official.
Dr. Eric Porter, assistant superintendent for Secondary Education, presented information to the board on the Differentiated Diploma Pathway at a curriculum work session held Thursday. Designed to give students another option to graduate when they are at risk of dropping out, Porter said the plan is for students "whose life experiences have made school hard."
"This is for students who have issues such as chronic substance abuse, chronic behavioral problems, anger issues, or depression, along with those who may have experienced teen pregnancy or even homelessness," Porter said.
Under the program, students are allowed to graduate with 21 to 22 credits instead of the 28 credit hours required by the Moore County school system. Twenty-one or 22 credits is the state mandated requirement for high school graduation.
"This is not a case of lowering standards at all," said School Superintendent Aaron Spence. "By lowering the required credits for graduation to the state level, the student is required to take less electives. The same number of core requirements must be met as with any other student."
Students may be referred to the program by guidance counselors, teachers, parents or administrators.
"Entering the program is not the student's decision to make," Spence said. "There are clear guidelines for eligibility, and this program is all about trying to meet the needs of these students."
Read more in Sunday's edition of the Pilot.
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Comments
cooldaddy 7 months, 4 weeks ago
The core requirements are what matters. The personal troubles of these youth fill in the electives. We all wish they had happier times, but it is what it is. This program makes sense. Be careful, good sense could rub off.
srm 7 months, 4 weeks ago
How does anyone think this a good idea? They are going to reward these students for slacking off and making poor choices. Achieving 28 credits is not that difficult to begin with. The majority of students take 8 classes per year, giving the the ability to fail 4 and still achieve graduation. By cutting these students slack now, they will only be set up for failure in the real world. When they are working and trying to make a living to support their families it won't matter if their "life experiences" have mad it hard for them to do their job. Giving them a pass now will only reenforce the idea that it does not matter how they perform because the government will step in and help them out. Yes, graduation rates should be higher. However, we should not be achieving that by lowering standards even more than they already are. The key is getting the kids engaged and inspired to learn, not making it easier for them to get out. Implementing plans like this only sets not only these kids, but the country as a whole, up for failure. The students who could not perform in high school will continue to underperform after and more and more citizen will require funding from our government to live. To improve our nation, we must improve our schools by actually focusing on the quality of education and not just standardized test scores and graduation rates.
ladylane 7 months, 4 weeks ago
I agree with you srm don't give the kids excuses for the kids. The teen pregancy does not have too hold anyone back get over the hump and do what you have too do. Don't let anyone set your goal for you and the parents should not allow this either. Give them a easy way out and they will take it. That's just setting them up too fell. My daughter had her child at 18 finished high school went too Sandhills, Campbell University, Wake Forest School of Medicine and is now a PA in pediactrics in Greensboro married doing very well. It all starts with the support of the parents with love and caring what your child does. There is going to be Mountains, Vallies, Rivers we all have too cross you pull yourself up by the boot straps and keep it MOVING. There is nothing anyone can't do if you put your mind too it, and don't let anyone tell you any different forget about hard times and no you can have better times by getting the right education and getting that very good job out there waiting for you.
aoshield 7 months, 4 weeks ago
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cooldaddy 7 months, 4 weeks ago
Did either of you read this? You state you have a daughter who had a kid and got multiple degrees. This is so far from "Cronic Behavior that it is unbelievable you think the world and this is about you. Please stand in front of a class of these youth and explain the crap you just wrote. Let me know how that turns out. I am conservative, but have enough common sense to know, and I see on a regular basis, that there is a segment of our society that needs a hand up. You step on their necks. The people you refer to are in a different catagory. I came out of many bad decisions and went on to college and a career. Most of us who screw up young come out of it with hard knocks. You have to know that there are some who just do not. Go back and read what was meant instead of somehow putting everyone in the same basket.
bdavis 7 months, 4 weeks ago
Please re-consider this proposal. Consider alternative classes that give these kids a chance to experience success. Perhaps virtual school etc. Many of these kids do not thrive in a "one size fits all" academic program.
CNMT 7 months, 4 weeks ago
cooldaddy - the article mentioned teen pregnancy as one of the hardships that might qualify a student for this path. ladylane was just commenting on her daughter being a teen parent and all she has accomplished. I think she did read the entire article. Did you??? ladylane - congrats to your daghter for her accomplishments and to her parents for bringing her up to keep trying and not to give up!
cooldaddy 7 months, 4 weeks ago
Yes cemented brain,I read it and let me assure you that having a child in High school is a hardship. Think, if nothing else, think. Not every kid has the super wonderful awesome self proclaimed wonder mom that commented above. Get in the real world. Until then...
srm 7 months, 4 weeks ago
Every student has some kind of hardship, but getting special treatment to make things easier denies students the opportunity to learn and grow from the challenges life has given them. Some of those hardships listed, i.e drug abuse or teen pregnancy, are a result of their own actions. Life is hard, but one must work to succeed. We can not have generations of young people thinking that they do not have to work for anything, that everything will be handed to them. Some have circumstances more challenging that others, but by denying them the knowledge and self esteem that will come from rising above their circumstances is not the answer.
jat 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Welcome to the world of state led student accountability. Due to the legislation requiring a grade on schools; the systems are trying to figure out how we can pass students regardless of what is quality and what they need for a number. This trend started with "No Child Left Behind" and continues because the grades school's receive do not take into account any circumstances that prevent them from meeting certain goals. It is unfortunate that the public continues to be deceived by accountability standards when comparing our schools to other industrialized nations. Remember that we are in the mid twenties for rank in testing. The facts they don't bring you are that we are also in the mid twenties for number of days we go to school and teacher's pay. Instead of truly improving schools and working together towards a common goal for all; we will continue to play the numbers game until parents start going over state and federal governments for real, effective change for all students.
pgericson 7 months, 3 weeks ago
Why should a Moore county student be economically disadvantaged - since high school diplomas are often required for certain jobs - by being forced to attain graduation requirements that are above state mandated levels? Moreover, no one is denying anyone anything. This would be an option offered under certain delineated conditions. The proposal seeks to improve the self esteem and economic prospects of a select group of young adults who are finding attending school particularly challenging. What is the harm in this? Who does it hurt?
madattheworld 7 months, 3 weeks ago
this option is a great idea. if i had not had teachers that cared i would not had graduated high school. i was 16 trying to go to school and care for an aling grand parent and keep up a house hold. alot of students dont get the chance i did; a sceond chance! if the state only looks for 21 credits to graduate why are our schools asking for 28? some things are just not for every body.
CNMT 7 months, 3 weeks ago
cooldaddy - I am sorry you feel having a child in high school is a hardship....I am not sure all parents feel that way - I know I didn't when, as a single parent, I had a son in high school. Also, not sure how you got "cemented brain" out of my CNMT....but guess you are dyslexic and saw CMNT instead. I am not fond of name calling...was just making a point that ladylane should be proud of what her daughter has accomplished and that teen pregnancy was listed in the article as a hardship. Didn't mean to ruffle your feathers!