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Making the grade

To the editor:

Much misinformation has been circulated around Louisiana’s dropout rate recently [Daily Report, June 9]. Clearly, when 16,000 students choose to drop out each year, we must urgently address the issue. However, to effectively overcome these challenges, it is important for us to base our decisions on accurate data.

Recent reports of revised dropout rates are incorrect. Also, suggesting that dropout rates are greater than 40% is grossly misleading. The facts are: A state’s cohort graduation rate is the number of students in an identified group who progress each year to graduate from high school in a four-year timeframe. In comparison, the state’s cohort dropout rate represents the number of students in an identified cohort [grade level] group who drop out before earning a high school diploma, GED or Certificate of Achievement.

Louisiana’s cohort graduation rate is 64.8%, which means that almost 65% of our high school students are graduating on time [in four years]. If students do not graduate on time, they are not counted as dropouts. In some cases, students may still be attending school or may have earned a GED or Certificate of Achievement.

Based on recent figures, Louisiana’s cohort dropout rate is 19%. This rate is not based on the number of students who drop out in a given year, but over the course of the cohort group’s progression toward high school graduation. On the other hand, Louisiana’s annual dropout rate is 5.2% for students in grades 7-12 and 6.9% for students in grades 9-12. Of course, when just one of our students drops out before graduating, that is one too many. However, these numbers are significantly lower than the figures that have been erroneously reported.

Overall, Louisiana’s cohort dropout rate has improved—falling from 25.5% in 2001 to 19% in 2007. Additionally, a report recently issued by Education Week points out that since 1996, Louisiana’s high school graduation rate has dramatically increased, and the growth outpaced the national average over a 10-year period. In fact, Louisiana’s gain was the sixth highest in the nation over the last decade.

The bottom line is we need to continue improving Louisiana’s graduation rate and significantly reduce the number of students who drop out. But we cannot attempt to resolve our problems unless we are willing to realistically confront our current circumstances and implement proven models that serve the immediate and long-term interests of our children.

It is my hope that an informed citizenry will advocate for appropriate solutions. Our children deserve nothing less.

Paul G. Pastorek, State Superintendent of Education

Sorry responses

To the editor:

Concerning today’s poll question as to whether David Letterman should apologize to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin or not, I am appalled at why an overwhelming majority of people have not said, “Yes, he should” [Daily Report, June 16].

Why would one even answer, “I don’t know?” What is wrong with people today when they cannot agree on a moral issue? Are there that many immoral Daily Report readers? Put aside political views. Raping a child is nothing to joke about, whether he was referring to Palin’s 14-year-old daughter or 18-year-old daughter. Rape is no joking matter regardless of whether society sees her as legal or not. It is inappropriate all the way around. It’s cut and dry.

Paul W. Bethel, Baton Rouge