Huh? Kerry said "53 Percent of kids not graduating from High School?"

[Armstead]

On the Today Show, Kerry in talking about education said "53 percent of our children are not graduating from high school."

Is that true or was it a slip of the tongue? I listened twice and that's what he said.

If true, we're a lot worse off than I thought.

Video at MSNBC Today Show

[Darkhawk32]

1. Just a slip of the tongue. Probably forgot the "more".. n/t

[Blue_Roses]

2. you damn right it's true

I was looking over the scores nationwide the other day because we are planning to move this summer and I wanted to check out the "averages" from other states and it's true. It's worse in the south. The northern states have a much better high school graduate rate.

I'll see if I can round up these figures again:)

BTW --Kerry did great against prissy Katie this morning.

[Wickerman]

7. Oh come on, Senator Kerry, You can't blame the Media for that!

Katie, I think you protest too much. She has really turned into a piece of work, huh?

[Wordie]

15. He handled it quite well though. Said the Dems don't have the megaphone

the way the administration does. Good for him. He really got a lot of info out there! And this is the Today show, not cable! Lots of people watch.

[Blue_Roses]

22. I thought that was excellent and so true!

He hit the nail on the head--we don't have the megaphone and it shows!

[Wordie]

24. He really stood his ground w/Couric's questions all the way through. nt

[Blue_Roses]

21. Oh, man

It was on when I turned the tube on and I was dumbfounded at her accusations. I NEVER watch the Today Show 'cause I can't stand her and Matt, but I was glued during this interview.

Not a way I like to start the morning.

[Blue_Roses]

23. For starters, here's something that is interesting and makes sense to what

Kerry is saying. Inflated graduation rates:

States fudging high school dropout rates
By Kavan Peterson, Stateline.org Staff Writer


A new report on high school graduation rates sharply criticizes states for fudging statistics on dropouts and for setting "appallingly low" goals for boosting the number of students who get diplomas.

While boosting student achievement has become a national priority for politicians and education officials, the report laid bare states' inability to accurately track high school dropouts.

The report, "Getting Honest About Grad Rates: How States Play the Numbers and Students Lose," also rebukes the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for allowing states to report inaccurate graduation rates without consequence.

Two years after first reporting severe gaps in state dropout data, the Education Trust analysis released June 23 found few examples of improvement and continued patterns of states inflating graduation rates.

While President Bush and the nation's governors want to reform America's high schools -- which have slipped to 17th place among developed nations in graduation rates -- unreliable information on dropouts is threatening to undermine those efforts, said Kate Haycock, director of the Education Trust, a nonprofit organization that works to increase academic achievement in schools.


more...
http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=39522

With these "propped up" numbers, how can we know what the real drop-out rate is?


Also, to add to that, here are some of the "statistics" that Kerry might be referring to. It's the overall averages. Some states will have a higher drop-out rate than others.

Getting Honest About Grad Rates: How States Play the Numbers and Students Lose,"

[benburch]

3. Close to 20% dropout rate here...

I cannot imagine how bad it is elsewhere.

[fasttense]

4. I think he made a mistake. It is actually 33%. I heard it on CNN

Lou Dobbs last night and thought it was too high.

[Armstead]

8. 33 percent is bad too

[fishwax]

12. 33%

:wow:

on edit: this number still sounds implausibly high to me ...

[mrcheerful]

5. Yeah its true, most kids aren't staying in school

they can make more money selling drugs on a street corner then in any job available to them after graduation. Its really sad to see that inner city kids as young s 12 selling drugs all night and sleeping during the day.

[blm]

6. 53% MORE kids not graduating now. I have heard that recently but

never saw an article about it.

Isn't Kerry's sister a lifelong teacher? Maybe that's a stat from the teachers' organization?

[underpants]

10. He was talking about math and science-I think it was a slip

I would assume that he meant that 53% are not properly educated or that they have to take remedial courses in college (of those who got to college) or something like that. He meant that more than half are currently receiving a poor education.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. Did the stats get worse once the "No Child Left Behind" programs

were implimented?

[lukasahero]

11. I know they did in Texas after it was implemented there

Haven't seen figures nationally, but it stands to reason. Schools become more interested in the test scores and let "low achievers" drop out. No longer on the books, no longer bringing down the scores. (Don't have a link handy but I'm pretty sure the source I got this from was Molly Ivins.)

[The Backlash Cometh]

18. Or worse. Maybe the kid gets pulled out to go to the private schools

and that fails too. Who's noticing if he never comes back? With Home schooling on the rise, who's keeping track where the kids are?

[Wordie]

13. He's doing a great job!!!! He's telling the truth about the SOTU! eom

[LA lady]

14. I am not sure....

I saw this, too, and he has used the statistic before but I really think it's innacurate.

http://www.dailycollegian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/11/07/436edb3746a04

"Kerry then emphasized education, saying that "53 percent of high school students in the United States do not graduate high school." China and India are racing further ahead in education and technology fields and that this calls for a new national educational plan, he said."

[BanzaiBonnie]

16. Did anyone notice

the sour look on Kouric's face when she ended the interview. She was pissed off.

[mzteris]

17. States fudging high school dropout rates

Friday, June 24, 2005
States fudging high school dropout rates
By Kavan Peterson, Stateline.org Staff Writer

A new report on high school graduation rates sharply criticizes states for fudging statistics on dropouts and for setting "appallingly low" goals for boosting the number of students who get diplomas.

While boosting student achievement has become a national priority for politicians and education officials, the report laid bare states' inability to accurately track high school dropouts.

The report, "Getting Honest About Grad Rates: How States Play the Numbers and Students Lose," also rebukes the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for allowing states to report inaccurate graduation rates without consequence.

Two years after first reporting severe gaps in state dropout data, the Education Trust analysis released June 23 found few examples of improvement and continued patterns of states inflating graduation rates.


http://www.stateline.org/live/ViewPage.action?siteNodeId=136&languageId=1&contentId=39522

[npincus]

19. that must be a Bush Family statistic

[kwyjibo]

20. In my Freshman year there were 1000 students, when I graduated, there were

only 600 of us. Pretty sad. Robert E. Lee High School, Midland, TX, home of George W. Bush.