Editor's note: This post is a submission to Fordham's 2018 Wonkathon. We asked assorted education policy experts whether our graduation requirements need to change, in light of diploma scandals in D.C., Maryland, and elsewhere. Other entries can be found here.
In light of the graduation scandals in D.C. Public Schools, Maryland, and other places, we have a new chance to ask ourselves an old question: What do we want to do differently?
How do we address the pressure school and district leaders feel to graduate kids that aren’t meeting requirements? (Finger-wagging and firing people certainly isn’t a complete solution.) And, most importantly, what do we want high school graduation to mean anyway?
This last question is essential if we’re going to get at what graduation requirements should be, so let me start there.
Here’s a multiple-choice question to kick it off: What does a high school diploma signify to you?
- The graduate is ready for college
- The graduate is ready to start a technical career
- The student has demonstrated the ability to accomplish something
- All of the above
- None of the above
There’s no wrong answer here. The point is we don’t all agree on what...