Tracking
We propose a reorganization of the SLSD similar to the Oregon plan. Until the 10th grade, students would focus on initial skills: the critical thinking and scientific, mathematical and geographic skills which are necessary in any occupation. Upon receiving an equivalent to the Certificate of Initial Mastery, the student would then have the option of choosing either a college preparatory or a technical preparatory track for the final two years, leading to a Certificate of Advanced Mastery.
A reform of this nature becomes especially important in conjunction with the tuition guarantee. The goal of the guarantee is to give all students an incentive to learn by allowing them to choose either a trade school or college. However if we maintain the present system, in which attention is focused solely on college, those students not interested in college will continue to see no connection between high school and future education or employment. They will continue to drop out at the current rate, and will not develop the skills needed to benefit from a trade school.
Arguments have been advanced that tracking is somehow undemocratic, because it means that all students will not go to college. In fact many students do not want to go to college. A system which does not offer these students training for the kind of career they want is elitist; it assumes that college is the only desirable choice for young people. Second, the tracking system we propose gives every student the option of pursuing either track. This is an important point: the track a student pursues is decided not by tests, but by the student. So no student is forced into any particular career alternative.
Arguably, it is the present, non-tracking system which is truly undemocratic. It assumes that college is the only desirable choice for all students, and denies those students who are not interested in college the opportunity to pursue other paths. Can any system which encourages one half of the students to drop out claim to offer equality of opportunity?
Next: Skills Testing