Understanding High School Redesign
Giving the best to our children seems to be the instinct of every parent. Why then have we settled for an education that is far from what is needed to succeed? This is a story about Smart Core, a new rigorous curriculum that will prepare our children for the future, no matter what path they might take. It’s not just for the college-bound, it’s for everyone, and it needs your support.
This is not your High School.
What was good enough for you when you went to High School, is just not good enough anymore. Think about how much has changed since you were in school. Computers, most notably, have completely changed our lives. The pace of technology makes it so that it is even more difficult, and important, to keep up. You just cannot use your
experience as a yardstick for your children’s future.
Help us save the High School Diploma
It wasn’t that long ago that the High School Diploma really meant something--it meant you could get a decent job, raise a family and be a success. Increasingly, the HSD means very little. Most white collar jobs require a college degree, and of the jobs that do not, employers complain that entry level applicants are not prepared in even the most basic job skills. The big picture is that America is slipping behind the rest of the world, and this is a problem that stems from an education system that is not doing its job.
Arkansas: Blazing the trail
Because Arkansas is one of leaders in the national movement to redesign High School, this change can seem even more daunting. We don’t have a model to follow because we are the model. We are the example. And we can prove to the country, and the world, that Arkansas is up to the challenge; all the while making our state a better, more prosperous place.
Why High School? Why Now?
Why focus on high school? Statistics show that the failure in our education system is happening between 8th and 12th grade. As students leave middle school, their interest and achievement levels in math and science are similar to the rest of the world, but by the end of high school, those levels drop dramatically. To succeed in today’s global economy, Americans on all levels of the employment spectrum need to know and be able to do more than ever before.
The failure of the two track system
It is nothing short of a gigantic mistake to box students into a two track system: Work-bound and college-bound. This system just doesn’t make sense anymore. The same skills are required for a high school graduate, no matter what they want to do after they receive their diploma. It’s not okay to excuse poor academic performance--the road to adult success begins in high school.
Math is the key.
Algebra is a gateway math course. Without it, students are ill-prepared for the advanced levels of mathematics that have been proven to prepare kids to be successful in their careers, whether it’s as a doctor or a pipe-fitter. Despite this fact, most kids do not take it in middle school, missing a valuable opportunity to advance their education.
Get involved with your child. It makes a difference.
Students whose parents are involved in their school work are more likely to take challenging mathematics courses early. Early adoption of this type of study puts students on a proven track of success. Demanding more of your child’s education is the greatest gift you can give them.
So what is Next Step?
Next Step is a new kind of high school curriculum. In simple terms, it is four years of English and 4 years of Math. What does this mean for your child? It means a more focused education that falls in line with what employers and colleges nation-wide are saying that they need. We are preparing the next great generation of Americans.
The straight FAQs
Not convinced that we need Next Step? Still think the U.S. is leading the world? Take a look at these astonishing statistics.
The old ways just won’t work anymore.
Today’s job market requires much more of employees, from executives to engineers, from doctors to dock workers, and here’s the proof:
Kids are not being prepared for college.
Among the students who opt to pursue higher education, we are finding more and more evidence that the high school curriculum is not in line with college expectations.
Want to know the big picture? When we fail our kids in school, we establish a cycle of failure that continues throughout life.
Don’t continue the cycle of failure and regret…
88% of students said they would work harder if their high school demanded more of them, set higher standards and raised expectations.