As a nation, we should not dumb down tests in order to ensure more people to graduate. The Seniors who are taking these tests had plenty of time to prepare for these tests, even when they did not know it. Dumbing down these tests would just let students know that they are fine as “just getting by” instead of “succeeding.”

We want to stop having this debate because there is no good solution. Either the good students suffer from dumbing down the exams or bad students suffer because they drop out without a degree.

We want to look at other solutions. My opinion is that the state should issue various graduation certificates based on the level of achievement on these tests.

Students who pass the test could receive a high school diploma and if they did especially well they could receive a state certificate for graduation with distinction. Or, the state could use a three tier system and award a certificate for highest state honors, high honors and honors.

The research regarding I.Q. tests shows that some races score a standard deviation above the norm which other races score a standard deviation below the norm. If I’m not mistaken, the dropout rates among races tend to correlate with these I.Q. scores. With the current system, a bored genius that doesn’t do the work, can graduate, but a non-motivated unintelligent person can not. This only serves to create frustration and to lock people into poverty.

My son who scores near the top 1-2% on IQ tests has the SAT scores in 7th grade of the average high school graduate. What this tells me is that the bottom 10% is probably pretty far behind. It should be recognized that it may take some students more time to get their high school diploma. Furthermore, their motivation has probably been destroyed because when people are not good at things, they tend to hate doing those things. Plus, these students don’t get enough community and family support.

If we as a society can’t develop a school system that can motivate and fully educate these children, then we must recognize what they have accomplished rather than leave them empty-handed or with the status of a drop-out.

These students should receive a state equivalency degree equal to the grade which they completed as indicated by state testing. The state would norm the test in such a way that it would know based on how far away the student was from passing, the grade equivalency of the low score.

The student would participate in graduation just like everyone else but would be graduating from a lower grade. Rather than flunk the student, the student would be invited to return to school in order to improve skills to a high school level.

one test should not define the fate of a stundent to pass high school or not. it should be determined on how they do each year through out the classes and not by one huge intimidating test.

it does not matter what it says about hte education system. kids have enough on their minds they dont need a test to deicide if they graduate or not. lets say you have a d stundent, now hes not planning on any great future but he at least needs a high school degree to get a basic job. if he fails the test, then what?

in new jersey we have a test called the HSAPs and its complete unfair. we need to pass it to graduate high school. now they added on to the math part of it alergba 2. however i never took alergba 2 that year before or the year of because it was not required and i had no clue in till it was too late that it would be on the HSAPs. I failed the math by 5 points on an algerba related questuion and i am able to take it over but i found it complete unfair that they would put it on and after making the option to takt algreba 2 “an option”

These same students then get to college and have to take a year of developmental courses to qualify for the regular courses. These are courses they have to pay for. They would be better off with those courses in the HS system.

EDIT

please see inkedsnow below to understand why- she does not the opportunity to take the test – but another year in school to learn the basics!