Another day, another state content to let its kids continue to earn meaningless high school diplomas. Pennsylvania's Senate Education Committee voted this week, 10-1, in favor of a bill that would give the legislature exclusive power to add graduation requirements, this in response to the state board of education's plan to require students to pass exit exams in English, math, science, and social studies. Senator James Rhoades, who chairs the Education Committee, explained that "testing could put increased pressure on kids and it could result in better behavior in school and more work, but kids who want to be successful are already doing that. The others will end up dropping out of school rather than face tests they find difficult." That's not what's happened in states that do have graduation tests, but who cares about the facts?
"Senate Committee Trying to Block Exit Exam Move," by Tracie Mauriello, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 10, 2008