PRESS OF ATLANTIC CITY 9-18-08

Unprepared high school grads focus of state education hearing by Gregg Volpe (Published: Thursday, September 18, 2008 ) David Morales never thought much about going to college. But in 12th grade he watched his aunt graduate from The Richard Stockton College in Galloway Town-ship. "After seeing her succeed in everything she wanted to do and watching her face light up with her own accomplishment, this inspired me to change my mind," Morales told the state Board of Education on Wednesday. It was too late to switch to college preparatory classes, but Morales thought that since he had received all A's and B's in his courses, he could still handle college. But when he took the Accuplacer placement test at Cumberland County College, he found he would have to take remedial courses first. "Now I will be in school a year longer to get my degree (in radiology)," he said. Morales was one of three current and former Cumberland County College students who spoke to the board about their high school experiences. CCC President Ken Ender brought them to the meeting to demonstrate the consequences for students who meet the current high school graduation requirements but are still not ready for college. Ender has been on a mission to boost college readiness. He said at one point 80 percent of the students arriving on his campus just out of high school had to take remedial courses. He now encourages high school students to take more challenging courses, and remedial rates are dropping. "I would look at high school transcripts and see a serious disconnect between the courses students took and our expectations," he said. Raising those expectations are at the heart of the new high school reform plan proposed by the state Department of Education on Wednesday. But while the intent was praised, not everyone is on board with the actual plan.

Of particular concern are plans to phase in new graduation requirements that specifically require lab sciences and algebra II. "I don't think what we're requiring now is enough for college," Education Commissioner Lucille Davy said.

Others said not every student wants to attend college, and their needs must also be met. Judy Savage, director of the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, said they are concerned that the new requirements might make it difficult for students to also complete technical programs. But she is encouraged that the plan seems to be willing to allow the course work to be integrated into vocational programs. "We are very concerned that the proposed graduation requirements might put all students on a college prep path," she said. "But if they are serious about personalization and flexibility, they could do it the right way."

The reform plans calls for creating Personalized Learning Plans for every student starting in sixth grade. That proposal, along with a requirement that every student take an online course, has some asking how that will be funded. Davy said schools would have to realign funds, but should have the money.

Stan Karp of the Education Law Center disagrees. He said it will take more money to add or upgrade science labs. Teachers will also need additional training. He urged the state to offer multiple paths that prepare students for college or the workplace. Leonia superintendent Bernard Josefsberg said that students should be prepared for 21st century jobs, not just college, and that the skills needed are different. "Re-forming New Jersey high schools into a funnel for college admissions may well serve the self-interest of university administrators," he said in a statement. "Their self-interest, however, will not benefit all of our students, nor will it serve the broader economy."

Davy agreed there may be more than one way for students to learn the skills, but said the bar should still be raised. There was agreement that too many high school students are not even encouraged to try more challenging courses. "The expectation gap is serious," Davy said.

Ender declined to identify the high schools his students attended, saying they had met current state requirements. He wanted only to demonstrate that improvement is needed. Freshman Shelby Schreier is taking remedial math at Cumberland County College even though she took three years of math in high school. She said no one ever suggested college prep courses, and since no one in her family attended college, she never thought much about it either. She now wishes her counselors had pushed her to have more options. "I thought what I was doing (in high school) was fine," she said. "My math class this year will cost me money, but the (remedial) credits won't count toward my degree." Christina Arkainno said she had to fight to get put into a college prep English class in her senior year, and earned a 92 grade. She thought since she got As and Bs in math and graduated high school with honors she would do fine in college. But the Accuplacer results put her into remedial classes at Cumberland, a humiliating experience. Still, she graduated with honors and is now finishing a four-year degree from Wilmington College at Cumberland's campus. "I'm not here to complain or point the finger," she said. "I just want to save other students from the unnecessary time, money, disappointment and feelings of inadequacy that I had to deal with." E-mail Diane D'Amico: DDamico@pressofac.com

September 17, 2008

More rigorous high school requirements urged By GREGORY J. VOLPE

GANNETT STATE BUREAU

Community college students pleaded with the state's Board of Education today to adopt more rigorous proposed high school requirements so that New Jersey's students are better prepared for college or career in the 21st century. The proposal, which contains many ideas Gov. Jon S. Corzine has been pushing since he ran for state office in 2005, would mean tougher math, English and science courses as well as requiring a second language and more practical courses such as career education and life skills. A handful of students from Cumberland County College told their stories of how they slipped through the cracks in their high schools and had to take remedial courses in college to catch up. Christina Arkainno of Vineland has graduated from CCC and now studies behavioral science through Wilmington University, but had to fight her own advisers in high school for more rigorous courses. After she was told the basic English she took in high school was no good for college, she demanded to be placed in college prep for her senior year. She won that fight, but still was surprised when she wound up in remedial classes at CCC. "I thought I was reading quite well," Arkainno said. "After all, I was taking college level English. ... I felt insecure. I felt stupid. I wondered what were those secret courses that would have prepared me." Kenneth Enders, CCC president, said many of his students fall in this trap. "They are wasting their time and wasting their money doing the kinds of things they should have been able to do in high school," Enders said. Education Commissioner Lucille E. Davy said many high schools already have stricter requirements than those she is pushing statewide but that the uniform rules would give all the state's pupils equal opportunity. "It is really about our minority and low-income children who are not likely to have access to these kinds of courses," Davy said.

STAR LEDGDER

’Formula for high schools is questioned’

Thursday, September 18, 2008, BY JOHN MOONEY

Does every New Jersey high school student really need to know advanced algebra for college or a job? If so, should the state take it a step further and demand every one of them pass an Algebra II test to graduate, not to mention also one in chemistry, biology and the language arts? And what if they don't? What will the state do to help high schools succeed, be it with money or other assistance? These were just some of the multitude of questions that greeted the Corzine administration's proposal yesterday to revamp secondary education in the state, starting with rewriting many of its graduation requirements. Education Commissioner Lucille Davy and her staff acknowledged that much work remains in laying out the latest version of the plan to the state Board of Education. They said there could be a full year of discussion before any final action and as many as eight years before the most stringent requirements are in place. "It's going to be an ongoing conversation with all of you," Deputy Commissioner Willa Spicer told the state board. "This is just the kickoff, ladies and gentlemen, and the decision whether we want to start that." The presentation lasted more than two hours and included a few recent high school graduates testifying to the need for change. They came from Cumberland County College, and each said they found themselves in remedial classes for subjects they thought they had learned -- or at least passed -- in high school. Shelby Shreier, 18, of Elmer, said she had no clue what do on the math test. "I had a lot of catching up to do," she said. Seeking to help students like her, the Corzine administration has latched onto a plan endorsed by 33 states that would raise standards in math and science and include proficiency testing. Under New Jersey's approach, minimum graduation requirements would be boosted to 120 credits, an increase of 10 credits or two classes. It would require online courses and step up demands for classes in foreign languages and economics. And each student would have "personalized learning plans," starting next year for sixth and ninth graders, establishing a roadmap for reaching the standards and graduating. Unveiled last spring, the plan has already faced strong objections from educators and others opposed to further testing requirements and mandates limiting student options. But state officials said the criticism is premature and the plan would build in flexibility for students to reach the standards in different ways. Some critics said they were heartened by the state's professed openness. "If they are serious about flexibility and personalization, there is an opportunity to do it the right way," said Judy Savage, director of the state's vocational and technical schools association. "But if you're just setting up a college-prep plan, it's window dressing." John Mooney may be reached at jmooney@starledger.com or (973) 392-1548.