On one hand the Times Union’s editor writes, The grades issued by the state have enough credibility at this point that achievement means something now.
Then just two sentences later they write (about Ribault getting off the intervene list) … depends on mysterious state criteria. It’s possible for an F school to be off the list and a C school to be on it.
The state goes from a bastion of credibility to a shadowy organization that nobody can figure out.
I get it, we want to hold on tight to any good news, no matter how scrubbed and manipulated it is, but when changes in the grading formula create a 90 percent rise in the amount of A and B schools in just two years, when the new formula excludes thousands of students and gives great weight to students in advanced placement classes whether they should be in them or not, when businesses report not being able to find qualified applicants, business leaders reports our school system is a drag on the local economy and Florida State college says seventy percent of our graduates take remedial classes we should be a little wary.
Lets acknowledged the hard work and dedication but let’s hold off on the parade just now.
How can you have a 90 percent increase in A+B schools when 70 percent of the graduates have to take remedial classes? Clearly, the change is attributed to the redefining of the what Algebra, Chemistry, Physics, Geometry, Algebra II and Advance Placement classes really are. The manipulation of the enforcement of the Code of Conduct, awarding credit for classes through Grade Recovery, and pumping students into AP classes that read on an 8th grade level with little or change of passing the exam, however, they all pass the class with flying colors. Wait until the state algebra and biology tests are administered and evaluated. Only the Hindenberg was more spectacular in the ball of fire when compared to the number of students that will go down in flames with that test being 30% of their grade in the class. Oh wait, what definition of Algebra and competency are we using?
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