| The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) education act | | | | achieving significant progress given the |
| regardless of whether you like or hate it has | | | | billions of dollars funded by the hard |
| accomplished at least one thing right by | | | | efforts of taxpayers. Since 1969, the |
| forcing school districts to report accurate | | | | National Assessment of Educational Progress |
| graduation rates. Given the billions of | | | | has been a consistent monitor of student |
| dollars invested in public education through | | | | achievement. What is interesting to note is |
| the taxation (income and personal property) | | | | that despite all the increased in funding |
| along with the enormous amount of research | | | | actual scores per subject and per age have |
| again much of which is funded by taxpayers' | | | | remained relatively flat and not near the |
| dollars, a reasonable personal would think | | | | levels necessary for sustainable economic |
| that high school graduation rates should be | | | | progress. |
| no lower than 90%. However, many U.S. | | | | |
| taxpayers are reading about graduation rates | | | | From 30 years from 1969 to 1999, in reading |
| of 30% to 60% within their respective | | | | the results were: |
| communities.For example, the Indianapolis | | | | |
| Star in November of 2006 attempted to lessen | | | | 9 year old students moved from 208 to 212 a |
| the outrage from the poor results being | | | | growth of 4 points or less than 2% |
| achieved through taxpayers' dollars when | | | | |
| reporting current high school graduation | | | | 13 year old students moved from 255 to 259 a |
| rates. The new formula courtesy of NCLB | | | | growth of 4 points or less than 2% |
| places the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) | | | | |
| graduate rate at 48%. This much more accurate | | | | 17 year old students moved from 285 to 288 a |
| Indiana graduation rate reflects earlier | | | | growth of 3 points of less than 2% |
| findings from the Indiana Government | | | | |
| Efficiency Commission. In 2004 the Commission | | | | Mathematics average scale scores showed |
| reported: | | | | similar results: |
| | | | |
| Of every 100 Indiana 9th graders, only 68 | | | | 9 year old students moved from 219 to 232 a |
| graduate from high school, 41 go on to | | | | growth of 13 points or less than 6% |
| post-secondary education, 31 persist to their | | | | |
| second year and 21 graduate within six years. | | | | 13 year old students moved from 266 to 276 a |
| | | | growth of 10 points or less than 4% |
| Nationally, in June of 2006, the Editorial | | | | |
| Projects in Education (ED) Research Center | | | | 17 year old students moved from 304 to 308 a |
| projected that 1 in 3 high school students in | | | | growth of 4 points or less than 2% |
| the Class of 2006 will not graduate in 2006. | | | | |
| This report painted a bleaker picture for | | | | Science faired the worst with: |
| urban school districts from 21.7% in Detroit | | | | |
| to 43.8% in Cleveland from the 2002-03 year. | | | | 9 year old students moved from 225 to 229 a |
| Even the best high school districts such as | | | | growth of 4 points or less than 2% |
| Fairfax County Va and Wake Conty N.C. | | | | |
| graduated only 82% of their students during | | | | 13 year old students moved from 255 to 256 a |
| this same time frame.Unfortunately, the adage | | | | growth of 1 points or less than 1% |
| figures don't lie, but liars figure appears | | | | |
| to be the guiding principle. In the past | | | | 17 year old students moved from 305 to 295 a |
| graduation rates were calculated from those | | | | decline of 10 points or a decrease of less |
| entering the 12th year and those receiving a | | | | than 4% |
| diploma 9 months later. From earlier decades | | | | |
| when there were less student movement from | | | | As a business owner or even someone looking |
| district to district to more homogenous | | | | to invest their hard earned dollars, would |
| communities, this process to calculate | | | | you consider investing in any organization |
| graduation rates was more acceptable, but | | | | that delivers less than a 4% return over the |
| still not accurate. However in the 21st | | | | course of 30 years? Until American business |
| century between the consistent movement of | | | | owners and taxpayers demand higher and |
| the students to the increase in drop out | | | | sustainable results from these public |
| rates from earlier grades, using this formula | | | | education institutions, the future of America |
| for calculating high school graduation rates | | | | as we know it will become much less |
| is no longer acceptable.The importance of | | | | bright.Leanne Hoagland-Smith, M.S. writes and |
| these results is two fold: | | | | consults on performance improvement within |
| | | | business and education.One quick question,if |
| First, taxpayers are not receiving a return | | | | you could secure one new client or |
| on their investment. Currently, each publicly | | | | breakthrough that one roadbloack holding you |
| educated student costs taxpayers $10,000 a | | | | back from success, what would that mean to |
| year. Using national figures provided by | | | | you? Then, take a risk and give Leanne |
| NCES, a student who drops out in 2006 after | | | | Hoagland-Smith a call at 219.759.5601 to |
| 10 years of education is an initial lost | | | | experience incredible results.Visit and |
| investment of over $60,000. This loss only | | | | explore everything from free articles to |
| continues to grow if the young person fails | | | | connecting with Leanne.P.S. If you are |
| to become a positive contributor to | | | | seeking an affordable speaker, Leanne may be |
| society.Second, US public education is not | | | | just the person to meet your need. |