As the House continues its work toward the crossover deadline they consider what looks like a very good education bill, HB 1176, which would require local school districts to reorganize all high schools that have a high drop out rate. The bill sets the stage for why this is a good idea by stating that the graduation rate for all high schools was 70.3 percent in 2007-08 while the graduation rate for kids in career and technical education (CTE) concentration was 86.5 percent. So bill sponsor, Rep. Lorene Coates (D-Rowan) proposes in schools with a graduation rate of 60 percent or less for two consecutive years would have to include a four-unit CTE concentration with at least one advanced level course. All 8th and 9th graders would receive information about the CTE opportunitites.
Seems like a better approach to addressing the drop out rate, keeping kids in school and most importantly giving them skills and training so they can get jobs or continue their training at a higher level, should they choose. Isn’t that what education is all about?
Review Stoops report on how the current drop out grant program is working here, and then his report on Career and Technical Education here. See if you don’t agree that reorganizing high schools to include CET as outlined in HB 1176 isn’t a better idea.
