A new study published today has revealed that the number of nationwide high school dropouts has significantly declined over the past few years.
According to the study, dropout data has revealed that the number of high school students not completing high school fell from 1 million in 2008 to 750,000 in 2012.
"The new dropout data is not surprising because the nation’s high school graduation rate has been steadily rising. Eighty-one percent of the Class of 2013 graduated on time, the highest since states began calculating graduation rates in a uniform way in 2010,” said The Washington Post.
Indeed, high school graduation rates have increased this year for the third consecutive year in a row. The Washington Post reported last month that preliminary state data revealed graduation rates declined in only five states last year.
Though both trends are an indication of good things happening in the nation’s public schools, The Post warns others to not be hasty in concluding that the data means students are better prepared for college and career.
A significant reason behind the decrease in dropouts, for example, is because of an easing of requirements in states like Arizona, where it no longer requires students to pass exit exams to earn a diploma. The policy change resulted in an increase of six percent more of Arizona students graduating.
Going forward, Bob Wise, a former West Virginia governor who heads the Alliance for Excellent Education, told The Post he hopes that the No Child Left Behind re-write will continue to place importance on holding schools accountable for low graduation rates.
"The House and Senate have each passed their own versions of a bill that would require states to report graduation rates, but does not require the states to take action. Wise wants to see action required in schools where fewer than two-thirds of students graduate on time.”
Read the full story.
Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor
11/10/2015
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