Gov. Heineman Announces Three-Point Plan to Strengthen High Schools
(Washington, D.C.) Governor Dave Heineman and State Senator Ron Raikes today announced a three-point plan to strengthen Nebraska high schools, as a two-day education summit on high schools concludes in Washington, D.C., hosted by the National Governors’ Association (NGA).
Governor Heineman said, “I have always been and continue to be proud of the education system in Nebraska but there are some alarming data that tells me we can no longer sit back and assume our young people are college and job ready when they graduate. That’s why I’m issuing a three-point call to action in Nebraska and I’m eager to partner with Senator Raikes and other Nebraska education leaders to see it through.”
Both the Governor and Senator were struck by the data related to math and science underachievement. Research conducted specifically for the summit by Achieve, Inc., shows that less than one third of Nebraska eighth graders are taking algebra or higher math courses. Even so, less than one third of Nebraska eighth graders are at or above proficiency in math.
Sen. Raikes, chair of the Legislature’s Education Committee, said, “I was stunned to learn that fourth graders in the U.S. are the best in the world in math and science and by the twelfth grade U.S. kids are near the bottom of industrialized nations. The Nebraska research suggests to me that our state cannot rely on our past general successes in this area. It is time for a careful review of the curricula in place across our state.”
The three-point call to action focuses first on academic rigor with the goal of raising the standard of academic excellence, particularly in the areas of math and science. National research suggests these two content areas are key predictors of student success either in college or the workplace. The second point focuses on parental involvement. The third point focuses on building partnerships between K-12 education and institutions of higher learning. During the summit, several ideas were presented to accomplish such partnerships including advanced placement for high school seniors in higher education and curriculum coordination between high schools and higher education institutions.
The research conducted by Achieve, Inc., also shows that a powerful predictor of whether high school students will graduate and earn a college degree isn’t only grades or test scores, but rather the rigor of the high school curriculum.
Gov. Heineman added, “As a general rule, students will perform according to the expectations set for them, so if our curriculums signal that math and science are not necessary then many students won’t choose to take-on the challenges associated with those courses. I intend to strongly encourage a course of higher expectations that will ultimately lead to greater academic excellence.”
The education summit concludes late this afternoon. The annual meeting of the National Governors’ Association begins tomorrow, Monday, February 28, and continues through Tuesday, February 29.
