CB> Improve the standards so that students never reach graduation, or 
 CB> even 12th grade, until they are able to read and write at the 12th 
 CB> grade level.  My point exactly - we need a a yardstick at every 
 CB> grade level to ensure that children do not progress until they have 
 CB> mastered the work at that level.
How about doing away with "grade levels" and have every teacher in elementary 
responsible for an age range, (called vertical grouping elsewhere).  This is 
being tried in our district and the teachers in the program really like it.  
I team taught with a teacher that moved up with her class, 4th to 5th.  I saw 
mostly advantages to what went on in her class. There are other approaches to 
this problem than using the systems we have now.  How about a K-2 class--the 
teacher keeps the same students for three years?
 
Could this be done at higher levels?  Sure it could.
--- Maximus 2.02
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