The U.S. News & World Report is best known for its ever-popular college rankings list, but for the past three years, it has also ranked the top public high schools in the country.

To determine the winners, a three-step process was used. In Step 1, a statewide comparison was made to determine which schools were above  average statistically.

According to the report: “We started by looking at reading and math results for all students on each state’s high school test.” The scores were adjusted by factoring the percentage of each school’s student body that could be classified as “economically disadvantaged (who tend to score lower)” to determine which schools were performing “better than statistical expectations.”

These measures leave me cold.  Instead of all of the standardized scores and indices, how about measuring the effectiveness of high schools by the quality of graduates they produce.  How many go on to pursue higher education?  How many volunteer in the community?  How many become contributing members of society?

It seems like we are so focused on numbers that we lose sight of the purpose of education – growing good citizens and an educated populous.  And because “that which gets measured gets done,” we are in danger of producing a sterile, passionless workforce that can perform mathematics on command but can’t compete in an increasingly complex and relational world.

Besides, we all know the BEST high schools are homeschools, right?

The HomeScholar Gold Care Club will give you the comprehensive help you need to homeschool high school.

Here is an article that appeared in the Education Reporter:

Results from both of the major college entrance exams demonstrate that few high school seniors are well-prepared for college. The 2008 ACT, the second-most widely administered college entrance exam, demonstrated that less than a quarter of test-takers who graduated in spring of 2009 demonstrated in all subjects the skills they would need to do well in college. Just as with the SAT, ACT test-takers are a subset of all students, and should be the students most likely to succeed in college.

ACT Inc. surveys thousands of high school and college instructors about the skills students need to succeed in entry-level college courses. The ACT is intended to test these skills, and test-score cutoffs in each subject can predict whether a student has a 75% chance of earning at least a C in an introductory class in that subject. The average composite ACT score in 2008 was 21.1 out of 36. 67% of test-takers met the college-ready benchmark in English, 53% in reading, 42% in math, and 28% in science. Only 23% of students met the college-ready cutoff in all four subjects – meaning that not even one in four test-takers has a 75% chance of earning at least a C in every freshman course. (Education Week, 8-26-09) Given high levels of grade inflation over the past several decades (See Education Reporter, July 2009), a C at most schools does not demonstrate an adequate understanding of course material.

Students who took the SAT last year averaged 515 out of 800 in math, 501 out of 800 in critical reading, and 493 out of 800 in writing. The composite average score on the test was the lowest this decade, and the 510 in critical reading was the lowest since 1994. 46% of students who graduate from high school take the SAT, normally in their junior year for the purpose of college admissions. The test is designed as an objective measure of students’ academic abilities and a predictor of their success in college.

The SAT results showed a wide disparity in the scores of various racial and ethnic groups. On the math section, which shows the greatest disparity across different groups, Asian-American students scored 72 points higher than the overall average, and African-American students scored 89 points below the average. Asian-American students showed the most improvement of any racial group, with the average Asian-American test-taker scoring a 587 in math, a six-point improvement over the year before.

Both the ACT and SAT score sets look even worse in light of the billions of new dollars federal and state governments have added to education budgets in the past 25 years. “This is a nearly unrelenting tale of woe and disappointment,” said Chester E. Finn Jr. of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. “If there’s any good news here, I can’t find it.”

Gaston Caperton, president of the College Board, was able to find some good news in the fact that more students, from more diverse backgrounds, are now taking the tests. More students took the SAT in 2009 than ever before. About 40% of the 1.53 million test-takers were of minority descent, compared to just 29% of test-takers ten years ago. (Wall Street Journal, 8-26-09)

Make special note of this comment:  “The SAT results showed a wide disparity in the scores of various racial and ethnic groups.” That disparity doesn’t show up among homeschooling students.  Not only that, homeschoolers score in the 80th percentile on these standardized tests regardless of race, gender, parental income, parental education.  Homeschooling just works better.

Check out my new profile on The Old Schoolhouse’s Speakers Bureau, and then ask you conference coordinator to invite me to come speak to your conference in 2010!

Michael Phelps has ADD – did you know that?  His mother was able to take what could have been a detriment, and turned it into a huge advantage.  I love this article titled “Michael Phelps’ Mom on How to Raise an ADHD Superstar.”  It states that “Behind almost every ADHD success story is a devoted parent (or two).” Read the article from ADDitudemag.com

Did you read about my newsletter article about the boy homeschool graduate with learning disabilities?  He went on to earn ELEVEN graduate degrees!  Here is the article in USA Today.

I encourage you to find the Superhero within your own child!  My husband has written a series of articles about finding the superhero your own homeschooled children.  Read more!

Step One: Observing Passion

Step Two: Catching Fire

Step Three: Providing Opportunity

Enjoy watching the Olympics!

Blessings,

Lee

Did you know that you can consult with me for free?  This month you can call me on my toll free number, on Wednesdays between 1:00 and 2:00 pm, Pacific Time, and consult for up to 10 minutes for free.  You missed me today, but call me next week!  It’s fun – and free!

Once upon a time, my children went to public school.  In fourth grade, they invited my son Kevin into the prestigious “Academically Capable” program.  We had lots of trouble that year, but nothing so profound as the “Oregon Trail” fiasco.  You may well wonder what could possibly go wrong in an Oregon trail unit study!  Each student was given a family identity, and followed them through the Oregon Trial.  One day the teacher told the students that they might have to fight, steal, or kill in order to get food for their families.  That  evening, my husband and I began to “debrief” Kevin, and explain that there are OTHER options besides breaking the Ten Commandments.  The next day, the teacher again stressed situational ethics.  In the evening, more debriefing.  Poor Kevin, who was only in fourth grade, was so confused by the contradictory messages coming from parents and teacher!  Even after I spoke to the teacher, she still stressed the importance of doing “whatever it takes” to obtain supplies on the Oregon Trail.

That was when we knew we had to homeschool our children.  We could not continue to allow our children to learn messages that contradicted everything our family believes in.

Fast forward ten years.  In the news yesterday was a story about the effect of situational ethics in modern young adults.  Here is a link:

Top Story:

“Law catches up with modern-day Bonnie and Clyde … They stole credit-card and bank-account information from friends, co-workers and neighbors to finance lavish purchases and travel, prosecutors said.”

You have probably seen it on your news as well, since it made the local, national and international news.  Guess what?  The young man in the story – our young “Clyde” – lived five doors away from us in our old neighborhood.  He attended the same elementary school and was in the same “academically capable” program.  His parents are wonderful, caring, and sweet individuals.  On the video clip you can see the street we lived on a few years ago.  We were shocked!

But not surprised…. Why should we expect a better result when the public schools teach children that values are conditional and truth is relative?

Another reason to homeschool through high school!

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Part I
“Three ways to homeschool”
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3917028n

Part II
Why Families Homeschool
http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=3916700n?source=search_video

Blessings,

Lee
The HomeScholar
www.TheHomeScholar.com

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The media seems to be saying this is THE BIG ONE.Here is a link to the Fox News story, but I’ve heard the same on other news programs.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,335808,00.html

“California parents who don’t have teaching credentials no longer can home school their children, according to a recent state appellate court ruling.”

But here is a summary from a California Homeschool group:
http://californiahomeschool.net/howTo/updates.htm

“The law in California has not changed. This is the opinion of one court. CHN strongly believes this opinion is incorrect, and homeschooling by using one of the alternatives to public school currently available under California law remains legal. The implications of this ruling and possible actions are currently being discussed by CHN, along with HSC, CHEA, Family Protection Ministry and HSLDA. “

And another summary from Homeschool Association of California
http://www.hsc.org/Appellatedecision

My internet friend, Julie, expressed it this way:

“People are getting phone calls from relatives that they are doing illegal activities. I went with my kids to cook a meal for the homeless at our church, something we do once a month, and I was hit up with the questions about legalities. ” and “While leaders are paying attention and being vigilant, it isn’t any reason to panic.”
Julie in San Diego
http://www.livingmath.net/

I know that it is concerning to hear these inflammatory statements on the news, but I don’t think there is a need to panic. It might be a great time to write your own state legislators, and let them know how important homeschooling is to you. It’s a great exercise for kids as well – a good civics lesson. But keep in mind that California law has not changed, and state and national agencies are currently working on the problem. Let’s watch, and keep our eyes on reputable sources. Try to avoid listening to news reports from agencies and people that don’t really know homeschool laws.

Blessings,
Lee
www.TheHomeScholar.com
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We had the pleasure of meeting Caitlin recently at a homeschool event. She is a charming, brilliant, witty and vivacious young lady.