Font size:
When high school graduates cross the stage and receive diplomas at commencement, it means they should be, at the very least, ready and able to meet the minimum skills necessary to perform certain types of jobs. But what if they aren’t?
The Kent County Intermediate School District is trying to do something about that. Beginning with the Class of 2007, all public and parochial schools within the ISD’s service area will award a "Guaranteed Diploma." That means the graduate will have the math and reading skills needed to perform about 75 percent of the jobs available to them.
"This will apply across the board to all students," said Ron Koehler, director of communications for Kent ISD. "We encourage all of them to get some type of post-secondary training, because in this economy a high school diploma really isn’t enough. But at the very minimum, this means those with a high school diploma will be employable in the jobs available to them."
The idea is backed by the Kent County Superintendents Association, meaning it has the backing and participation of more than 20 public school districts, several charter schools, the Grand Rapids Christian Schools Association and the schools run by the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids.
Koehler said the concept for a guaranteed diploma began after a series of talks with the local business community. When the plan was first unveiled in the fall of 2002, the measurement standard was going to be the Michigan Education Assessment Program.
"The business people asked ‘what will be different’ with this," Koehler said. "They weren’t so sure because they’d been getting graduates who passed the MEAP but didn’t have the skills."
The district decided instead to use the ACT Work Keys as the standard for measuring student readiness, performing a pilot test in the fall of 2003.
"That is commonly used across the business community because the scores relate to the jobs they have," Koehler said. "It’s a good indicator of skill level and suitability, and the businesses felt more comfortable using something they’re familiar with."
It boils down to this. If a graduate with a guaranteed diploma enters the workforce and cannot perform the expected duties, the employer simply has to call the ISD.
"They just call us, and we’ll provide the remedial training at our expense," Koehler said. "That can either be here or maybe something on-line."
Koehler said although the public and private schools in Kent County are all on board with the program, it is the ISD that will bear the financial burden. A Mackinac Center for Public Policy study from 2000 showed Michigan businesses and universities spend an estimated $600 million on remedial education each year.
"That’s why it was important to have an actual measure we could all agree on," he said. "Do we face some exposure? Sure we do. Is it the right thing to do? Absolutely."
Rockford Public Schools, also located in Kent County, has been using a similar guarantee for a decade. The program began in the fall of 1991, with the first guaranteed diplomas going to the class of 1995. At Rockford, freshmen are given the math and reading California Achievement Tests in the spring. Those who don’t pass are given remedial instruction, and then take the test again in the spring of their sophomore year. The same occurs again in their junior year. Those who still do not pass are given a certificate of completion, rather than a diploma, but they are welcome to return, at no expense, and receive more remedial instruction in hopes of earning a diploma.
"We’re talking about maybe two or three kids a year who don’t get a diploma," Rockford Superintendent Michael Shibler said. "The class of 2006 will be our 12th class to go through this program, and I’ve never had a single call from an employer."
In a December 2000 commentary written for the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Shibler said all districts should guarantee their diplomas.
"I encourage all public school districts in Michigan to hold themselves accountable by adopting competency testing that reflects the expectations and desires of their local communities," he wrote. "Doing so would ensure that the diplomas they grant are truly representative of academic achievement."
For years, Koehler says the conversation between educators and business owners has gone something like this: The business community tells schools "kids aren’t learning the skills we need," and the schools say "yes they are," and the businesses say "no, they aren’t," over and over.
"That’s as far as that conversation ever went," Koehler jokes. "Even back in 1983, with the ‘Nation at Risk’ report, we were hearing that students were not attaining the necessary skills and as a result, the economy was suffering."
Koehler said the process has been good as a way for the two sides to discuss those skills.
"This is really the first time we’ve been able to step back and ask just what are the minimum skills," he said. "We’ve reached the agreement not only on what the skills are, but also we know that those skills can and will change and increase over time. This is a good starting point."
The ACT Work Keys is now given to all ninth graders in the ISD. Koehler says freshmen, sophomores and juniors pass at about the same rates, so the earlier students take the test, the better. About 75 percent of students pass on the first try.
"Giving it to ninth graders leaves a lot of room for remediation if they don’t have the skills," he said. "That gives them three more years to take the courses necessary and give it another try in following years."
The Work Keys test also fits in with what the district calls "educational development plans," which combines class selection with post-high school goals.
"We use an on-line program called ‘Career Cruising’ that measures skills and aptitudes," Koehler said. "It looks at what path the student is interested in and makes suggestions on what classes to take in order to meet those goals."
Not only does the Work Keys test give the schools and business owners a good indication of what is being taught and learned, it also lets students see the larger picture.
"It really can act as a way to inspire and encourage students," Koehler said. "If they pass it as freshman, we can say ‘look, you already have the skills to do 75 percent of the jobs available to you as a high school graduate,’ and then get them to work harder and look beyond that."
A few details still need to be worked out as the program grows. One is how to communicate the "guarantee" that comes with the diploma. That may be an accompanying document or some other written instrument. The second is, how exactly to deal with students whom business owners send back for remediation.
"We have an on-line course called Key Train, that students use to prepare for the Work Keys test," Koehler said. "It might be as easy as having them take a refresher in that, maybe even right at work if it’s convenient for them. We’ll also look at developing some classes in conjunction with our adult education folks, or maybe even partnering with a community college."
