Good public ed. idea - natch the Dept. of Ed. opposes.

[donco6]

Here in Colorado, the Department of Education has been overrun with voucher-supporting, compliance-driven, NCLB-enforcing, RW fascists. The head of the Department is Bill Maloney, a pompous, Harvard-grad windbag who sees himself as an erudite spokesman for the Thomas Sowell school of public education critique. The chair of the State Board of Education is another RW whacko who also happens to chair the state's charter school district. No conflict of interest there.

Anyway, this article refers to the "5th Year Senior" programs that have been shown to be so successful elsewhere. Kids stay in school for an extra year to take college and high school credit courses so that they're better prepared to go on to college. The Department opposed the programs as they see it as kids "freeloading" for a free year of college.

We have a clandestine program here in my district. We get around some of the problems because we "advise" the kids not to get that last hs graduation credit until the end of their 5th year (hence, they haven't gotten enough credits to graduate, so the rule doesn't apply to them)

Another big argument used by the RW against this program is that illegals can take advantage of it. Right now, students who are illegal have to pay out of state tuition to go to college - which is completely impossible. So they don't have a chance without programs like these.

The program College Now, developed by then-principal Scott Mendelsberg in 2004, his first year at Lincoln, seems to be having the desired effect. In 2004, Gose writes, 17 percent of graduating seniors continued their education; in 2005, 73 percent did.

So naturally the state Department of Education is trying to shut it down.

State law says that a student is entitled to funds for public education until high school graduation or age 21, whichever is first. College Now established a "differentiated diploma," with graduation requirements equivalent to those for a two-year college degree. Students who opt for that diploma can stay in school until they meet those requirements.

Colorado Commissioner of Education William Moloney says that's contrary to a state Board of Education rule that says students can't get funds for a fifth year of high school once they have enough credits to graduate. "Every senior in the state called up wanting a free year of college tuition," he told the Chronicle, hyperbolically.

http://tinyurl.com/fp4k4

[Mythsaje]

1. Higher education should be free

YES, FREE, for all of those who show themselves capable of pursuing it.

The fact that we put people deep in debt just to become more productive members of society is a black mark against our whole system.

[donco6]

2. I agree.

But then we'd have an educated populace. And how would that benefit Republicans who prefer everyone to be fat and stupid?

[Mythsaje]

5. We need to destroy the Repugs this time around...

We need to get someone like Thom Hartmann to counter every one of their assumptions in public...someone who understands how ridiculous their economic policies actually are when it comes to creating a viable society. "Voodoo Economics" need to be completely debunked.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Sounds like a wonderful idea

[randr]

4. People who actually work hard to earn a foot up

are freeloaders while the idle rich and trustafarians coasting on their parents wealth and inroads are the model of civility.
The whole world is upside down.

[donco6]

6. I could give you so many examples . . .

We have one kid who wants to be a doctor. She's smart, good grades. But her background is so unbelievable that I'm surprised she's still alive. Both parents in jail - for a LONG time. She's actually living on her own at 17. Working full time. In school full time. Taking college courses through our program. She'd be a benefit to ANY society. And they say she's a freeloader.

[knitter4democracy]

7. That would work for a lot of kids.

I tutored the "O level" students in college and taught high school English. There are many kids who really need that extra year before being ready enough to take college level classes. It's a good idea.

[donco6]

8. shameless kick.