NAEP report: 'Rigor works,' so schools need tougher classes

Stacy Teicher Khadaroo:

More students - but still not enough - are taking a rigorous course load, according to the NAEP report card from The National Assessment of Educational Progress, released Wednesday.

American high-schoolers are earning more credits and taking more challenging courses than they did 20 years ago, according to a new study of high school transcripts. But education experts still worry that not enough of them are graduating ready to enter college or get on track for science- and math-based careers.

Almost twice as many students completed at least a standard curriculum in 2009 as in 1990, the report shows. Curricular rigor improved for students across racial and ethnic groups, but significant gaps still remain.

The economic future of the country depends on improving education, and "the message [of this study] is that rigor works," says Bob Wise, president of Alliance for Excellent Education in Washington, which advocates for improving high schools. "But it puts an obligation on all of us to be sure we're not only providing rigorous courses, but also the support students need to succeed in them."

Posted by Jim Zellmer at April 13, 2011 7:40 PM
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