Readers React: Dark cloud in the graduation rate
Re “State’s grad rate passes 80%,” April 29
That a record rate of California students are graduating high school is encouraging news for our much-maligned education system. However, I feel the reporting missed an important item.
L.A. Unified Supt. John Deasy attributed the better graduation rates partly to efforts aimed at dropout recovery and prevention. But are alternatives for dropouts and students at risk of leaving school equivalent to the education others are receiving?
My nephew completed an Algebra II packet in one week, which gave him credit for the two semesters he failed in school. Each year local community colleges have to accommodate high numbers of students who need remediation.
Improving graduation rates is an important goal, but we should not get too excited. Just as printing more money devalues our currency, graduating unprepared students devalues our education system.
David Considine
Glendale
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