State Board Gives Its Approval to American Diploma Project

After about an hour of debate this morning, the State Board of Education gave its approval to join the American Diploma Project. Now it's just up to Gov. Gregoire, OSPI Chief Terry Bergeson and the business community (I'm unclear if this means the Washington Roundtable,or top businesses in the area) to sign the paperwork and send it to Achieve, which basically runs the program.

A bit about ADP. The coalition consists of 29 states (30 if we join) that work toward four main goals. One is to align high school standards and assessment required for college or work. Administer a college- or work-ready assessment to students that is aligned to state standards. Require that all students, college-bound or not, take tough courses in high school. And hold high schools accountable if they don't achieve the above. Post-secondary schools (read colleges or CTC) are held accountable for the success of the students once they get there.

Now there were some good questions in the debate, that eventually turned in ADP's favor. First, how exactly does one hold a high school or college accountable? That question was really never answered.

There was some debate on preparing all kids for college (as one board member read it). I guess I take issue with that comment since all kids have to take something beyond high school now if they want a high paying job. That might mean trade school or a four-year degree. But today, a high school diploma alone will not guarantee a family-wage job as it did in my generation.

I guess a few years back, both Gregoire and Bergeson dismissed ADP, which I still don't understand. My sense was that  ADP was too pushy. Okay, back to the last part of the board meeting, and I'll sign in again this afternoon.