I read an article today about students entering the local community college. It stated that 60% of the students entering are not ready for the college. The college is Community College of RI (CCRI). I found this interesting because I heard that CCRI classes were not as hard as the Universities and that many students who have low grades actually attend CCRI to prepare to get into a University.
This pretty much backs up what I believe. Our public schools are failing our children. Children are graduating high school not prepared for college.
The article quoted the RI Commissioner of Education. She stated that people often remind her that not all students want to go to college. A fact she acknowledges as true. She goes on to say that there are two important points to make. One - We need more college educated adults in RI, so that number needs to go up. Two - Even if they choose not to go to college, they need the level of skills to be successful in life. The skills they need to be successful in life, they also need to be successful in the work world.
The RI Commissioner of Education said, "Some districts in our state don't have access to curriculum that is aligned to state standards. She goes on to say that some districts DO have access to the curriculum but don't always use it.
I find the above quite alarming that either some districts don't have access to the curriculum aligned to the state standards in addition to the fact the ones that do don't use it? I keep wondering why is this happening?!
I agree with another comment the Commissioner of Education makes and that is that it all builds from the very first day of elementary school. Every part of our system has to be making sure students are progressing along the way.
I urge all parents to be sure their children are having the mastery. Read those state standards. If your children are not proficient question someone!
I read this article and found it to be truly frigtening for my son. He has been working very hard throughout his high school (especially) career and to find that he may or may not be prepared for college is alarming! The financial person we recently met with is talking a family contribution of around $27,000 per year for his college years. To think I may have to pay for extra years because he is not prepared??? YIKES!!
ReplyDeleteoops.. frightening
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