Most NY students aren't college ready

For this week’s blog, my focus is on the New York Times February 7th 2011 article titled “Most New York Students Are Not College-Ready” by Sharon Otterman. Her article is based upon the recently released New York State “College and Career Ready” Graduation Rate Data. I applaud Ms. Otterman for vividly and candidly describing the situation. New York State defines college ready as a High School graduate who scored at least 80 on the math Regents exam and 75 or better on the English Regents examination. Using this criteria, only 22.8% - slightly less than 1 in 4 of the NYC graduating class of 2009 achieved the “college-ready” status. NYC reported graduation rate was 64.5% and so not even half of those who graduate are college ready. In upstate New York regions such as Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo, the picture is even worse. In Buffalo, only 15.6% are college ready and it only has a 60.7% graduation rate. In Syracuse, only 14.7% are college ready and it only has a 49.5% graduation rate. In Rochester, the worst city in New York state, only 5.1% are college ready and a 46.6% graduation rate. What I like most about the article, is that Ms. Otterman doesn’t try to offer any solutions; she merely describes the problem. Too often, when a writer offers a solution and if the reading public doesn’t agree with the solution, they dismiss the problem. In start contrast and entirely opposite is the insulting situational spin given by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Feb 9th press release titled “NJ Students Most Prepared for College, Yet Achievement Gap Remains for Minorities 7th Annual AP Report to the Nation Shows” In New Jersey, unlike New York where all students are required to take 5 regents exams; he bases his findings on the AP exam in which only 25% of New Jersey Students take. To quote the press release “Wealthier New Jersey students are among the best prepared in the nation to succeed in college, according to the College Board’s 7th Annual Report to the Nation released today. But low-income and minority students don’t take as many advanced-level courses and are not as ready for higher education, further demonstrating the need to implement Governor Christie’s education reform agenda.” I am completely appalled by this biased, non-inclusive report. The goal of the AP exam people is to persuade more states to expand the usage of their test. New Jersey students are not more ready than New York students!

Sources:
http://www.nj.gov/education/news/2011/0209ap.htm

http://www.northjersey.com/news/education/115703004_N_J__students_score__resounding_success.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/nyregion/08regents.html