Dive Brief:
- According to a study released by the Common Core-backing Carnegie Corporation in 2013 ("Opportunity by Design: New High School Models for Student Success"), high school dropout rates will rise with the new federal standards.
- According to the report, which uses data compiled by McKinsey & Co, unless the current education environment changes, the national dropout rate will rise from 15% to 30% in the next six years under the new standards.
- The report argues that emphasis on teacher training is not enough to close gaps that will be created by the new, more rigorous standards. Rather, "far-reaching changes in school design" must occur.
Dive Insight:
The report asks whether or not focusing on educators will be enough to avoid significant drops in the graduation rate. It then answers its own question: "The short answer is no: even coordinated, rapid, and highly effective efforts to improve high school teaching would leave millions of students achieving below the level needed for graduation and college success as defined by the Common Core."
While the report went largely unnoticed, veteran educator Larry Ferlazzo recently blogged about it on his website, bringing it back into the spotlight.