Should high school students be required to pass an exit exam in order to earn a diploma?

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I think it shold be left here too.

I think it should be left here.  It's not really about the curriculum.  We could have some sub-topic on testing, but lacking that, it seems to go here best...

Should this be under "curriculum policies" or left here for now?

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I missed this at the bottom of the article, it says it more plainly:

Twenty-six states require high school students to pass tests to earn diplomas:

Then it lists the states.

Innerestin.

I just re-read the article, and it does seem like diplomas would be dependent on passing an "exit exam."

For example,

In New Jersey, students who can't pass the state tests have an option under which their "portfolio" of work gets examined. If that portfolio passes muster, the student gets a diploma that's no different from diplomas given to students who did pass the tests.

"Should high school students be required to pass an 'exit exam' in order to earn a diploma?"

No, the issue is not debating whether there diploma should be stripped if they can't pass a test afterwards.  If they graduate, they graduate no matter what.  They want to give the students an exam so employers or universities can weigh their diploma against other students.  It would be like an SAT test for employers, I guess.

Brian's evidence suggests that more than half of the states have considered such exams so seems like the debate is there for this to be an issue.

agree on Jenna's comment on 'weighted' but it might not be a big deal -- if any PF's speak about they'll  be talking about end-of-the-year exams as they relate to diplomas, which is weighting them.  That might not make sense. I need to get some sleep.

Have you seen anyone else talking about this?

Interesting issue!

Wording could probably be clearer -- what do you mean by "weighted"?  Like, a big percent of what's required to graduate?  Or like "made weightier/  more credible?"

How about, "Should high schools require that students pass a graduation test in order to receive a diploma?"

Should this go under "Curriculum Policies?" 

Here's some background...

Maryland Schools Superintendent Nancy Grasmick has a problem. She wants to stiffen the credibility of high school diplomas in her state by tying them to graduation tests. But she also worries about the several thousand students unlikely to pass those tests each year.

Welcome to the club, Superintendent Grasmick. Currently, 26 states have so-called exit exams, and the tests are an issue in each one.

The logic behind the tests is solid. Employers and colleges continue to complain that too many high school graduates lack basic skills. In some states, as many as four of every ten students entering universities end up taking remedial math or English classes.

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