Kentucky school districts aren't having the best of luck with their secondary GED programs:
Diane Akers, director of pupil personnel, said it became an option this year [to start a secondary GED program] when legislators agreed to allow school districts to offer a secondary GED to try to slow the dropout rate. State standards mandate that students may participate only if they are at least 16 years old, two years behind and achieve a set score on standardized tests to ensure they have the ability to finish the program.Akers said one problem with the secondary GED was the cost. The district examined two companies that offer a program, both of which had a one-time licensing fee of $5,000, plus fees for each student taking it ranging from $50 to $65...A larger problem, said Akers, is what appears to be a lack of success of students entering the secondary GED program in other districts.
Somerset High School purchased one of the more expensive programs, she said, but it is not going well so far. "They had five students enrolled initially in their program," Akers said. "I spoke to a gentleman that's running the program. ... As of Monday, they had one student still in the program. The student was arrested over the weekend and they're not sure he'll be allowed to come back into the school."
The secondary GED program has had its critics from the start, who say that giving students the option to go right into a GED without being out of school a year doesn't help the students as much as it helps the schools, who don't have to count those students as drop-outs.
Posted by kswygert at April 25, 2005 10:19 AM