Connecting moms in Polk County, Fla.

Florida graduation rate plunges under new federal rules

I wonder how our county fares on this exercise. Lots of new evaluations for teachers these days.

http://http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/os-high-sc...

The new rates show the federal rule would impact some districts more than others. Orange County's 2011 rate dropped 8.6 percentage points, for example, but Seminole County's dropped 14.5 percentage points.

The federal rate is tougher because it counts as graduates only students who earn a standard diploma within four years. It doesn't count students with disabilities who earn "special" diplomas. It also doesn't allow schools to wipe from their books students who transferred to adult education programs. Instead, those students count against a school because they are not graduates.

Under the formula Florida had been using, students who earn a "special" diploma counted as graduates. The state also deleted from the calculations anyone who transferred to an adult education program — typically students with weak academic records in danger of dropping out.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kat Bryan on February 16, 2012 at 8:13am

I think not counting the students who graduate with a special diploma is absolutely wrong. These kids have performed to the best of their ability. We are not talking children with mild learning disabilities. We are talking about Down's kids, severely Autistic and other children who will never graduate with a regular diploma. They have worked harder to earn that special diploma than some of the"normal" kids ever thought about working. As for those that transfer to Adult Programs: as long as they continue in the adult program they shouldn't count against the school. If they drop out of the Adult Program then count them against the school. 'Also the whole formula is a mess. Google it.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by kimpsbl1 on February 16, 2012 at 11:40am

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-12-12/news/os-florida-high...

Florida's graduation rate calculates the percentage of students who finish high school four years after they enroll. It includes students who earn regular and "special" diplomas, which are those awarded to students with disabilities in the state's "exceptional education" program. It does not include students who earn GEDs.

The state's method of figuring its graduation rate — one created by the National Governors Association — deletes from the calculations students who leave to attend adult education programs.

The federal government has proposed a measure of calculating graduation rates that would count those students as "non graduates" and would also not count as graduates recipients of "special" diplomas.

So under the proposed federal plan, which could kick in next year, Florida's high school graduation rate would look much worse.

Even if the federal plan, which is still under discussion, doesn't come to be, Florida's graduation rate could still drop in coming years, even under the current method of calculation.

The state likely will increase the passing scoring students need on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test to earn a diploma, a change that would kick in for the Class of 2014. And it has already upped its graduation course requirements, demanding that students take more math and science classes and pass end-of-course exams in those subjects.