Should Kids Be Able to Graduate After 10th Grade?

[DMS]

Kathleen Kingsbury – Fri Nov 7, 4:45 am ETHigh school sophomores should be ready for college by age 16. That's the message from New Hampshire education officials, who announced plans Oct. 30 for a new rigorous state board of exams to be given to 10th graders. Students who pass will be prepared to move on to the state's community or technical colleges, skipping the last two years of high school. (See pictures of teens and how they would vote.)


Once implemented, the new battery of tests is expected to guarantee higher competency in core school subjects, lower dropout rates and free up millions of education dollars. Students may take the exams - which are modeled on existing AP or International Baccalaureate tests - as many times as they need to pass. Or those who want to go to a prestigious university may stay and finish the final two years, taking a second, more difficult set of exams senior year. "We want students who are ready to be able to move on to their higher education," says Lyonel Tracy, New Hampshire's Commissioner for Education. "And then we can focus even more attention on those kids who need more help to get there."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20081107/u ... r10thgrade

[katie]

Absolutely. Normally if a "child" can test out at that level, there is not much in 11th-12th grade to keep them occupied anyway but trouble... witnessed this first hand. Brilliant kids burnt out 1st year of college. I believe the community college would allow them to keep their education on level and experience a more mature atmosphere but still be close to home for the guidance they need during that awkward teenie-bop / adult stage. Sounds like a good plan all around.

Great post Denmark!