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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Detroit to graduate 98% of students

Despite legal and political hurdles, Bobb pledged to execute his  academic initiatives until someone stops him and vowed not to renew  contracts of principals who don't embrace reforms. (Detroit News file)

Despite legal and political hurdles, Bobb pledged to execute his academic initiatives until someone stops him and vowed not to renew contracts of principals who don't embrace reforms. (Detroit News file)

Last Updated: March 15. 2010 3:27PM

Bobb's goal for DPS: 98% will graduate

Boosting attendance also part of his academic plan

Marisa Schultz / The Detroit News

The $540 million academic plan Robert Bobb will unveil tonight for Detroit Public Schools calls for rigorous achievement standards, offering college-level courses within all high schools and boosting graduation and attendance rates beyond the state average.

Bobb's blueprint sets standards so high that the district would climb from the bottom of the list to among the best in the country for student achievement measures. According to Bobb's plan, Detroit schools' graduation rate would increase from 58 percent to 98 percent graduation rate and all students would pass standardized tests and be accepted into college by 2015.

Read more....

The actual graduation rate is considerably lower than 58%. But even if it was that level, a 40 pp. increase might be more than a stretch goal... maybe a pipe dream. Realistically, there are nowhere near 98% of the students who are capable of "graduating." The only solution is to change the requirements for graduation to "showing up is good enough." Even then, it is unlikely that Mr. Bobb can get 98% of the students to actually show up for four years.

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