DT> Washington State is well on it's way toward implementing the 
DT> Certificate 
DT> of Mastery.  A diploma is earned through seat time.  It will mean 
DT> nothing....but a Certificate of Mastery is *Earned* by meeting State 
DT> mandated standards.  Students in our states are tested in 4th, 7th, 
DT> and 
DT> 10th in regards to the new State Essential learnings.
DT> Maybe the State is getting serious?
    Only if the state is willing to deny Certificates of Mastery to all who 
do not meet high standards, even if that means the politically-unpalatable 
consequence of (at first) a high percentage not getting Certificates of 
Mastery.  
    And only if the state is willing to face the music if minority kids do 
much worse than average in the process, resulting in disproportionately-few 
minority kids getting Certificates of Mastery.  (This may be very problematic 
to whatever extent minorities are significant in a state's larger cities.)
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