Sunday, January 22, 2006

Not a bad idea on first reading

As part of the federal education budget there is a new program which will rate the academic rigor of the nation's high schools. The rating will result in grants of $750 to $1300 to low-income college freshmen and sophomores and more to juniors and seniors majoring in mathematics and sciences.

But, what consitutes a "rigorous secondary school program of study"? Since a state will automatically be credited with one high school that has such a program, does 'rigorous program' mean anything?

Also, the program excludes private schools, Catholic schools and home-schooled kids.

And, the federal government will have to become quite involved with a state's education in order to determine the rigor of a program. This flies in the face of a couple of hundred years of local education.

I think it's a good idea but it needs work.

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