I think they should take the graudation Exam out of the school and they will see how many people stay in school the reason why they drop out is because they can’t pass the test so they just give up because they now they are not going to walk at graudation.

Bad parenting. No Child Left Behind. Bad teaching. Ritalin (which by the way, when looking through a microscope - Ritalin and Crack molecules look scarily similar). Kids are labled LD when they really just have a discipline problem. Taking God out of schools. Getting rid of “corporal punishment”. Among many many many many other things.

I have read all of the 3 posts before mine and agree with all of them. I also believe there is more to this problem. If you graduate 3 or 4 times before you get to High school,I don’t think it holds the same meaning.When you do something you have worked hard for the first time,it’s more exciting.3rd or 4th time,it’s getting old.Also,these exit exams,I went 12 yrs passed all my classes and got my credits,then graduated.Thats how it should be.Let the teachers teach and I will know,as a parent,if my child can read or not.We are making the teachers do the parents job.Each is hard enough without the other.So let the kids go to school,let the teachers teach information and not tests,and do away with"No child left behind”.I look back on my school yrs with fond memories,not"boy am i glad i passed those exit exams!” If you are any kind of a parent you will know if your child needs help.I don’t want or need my government deciding my childs future with a test!

“Some school districts blame poverty as being one of the main factors.”

Poverty is no excuse to not learn.  Most “poverty students” receive free breakfast and free lunch.  Most schools also have “recycled” uniforms so most parents that do not have the money to buy the uniform can get one free. 

If you teach your kid manners at home and they come into the classroom and sit down and shut up and let the teacher teach instead of just babysitting your brat, there should be no excuses for not learning.

Coaches should not be allowed to talk to any of the teachers concerning a child’s grade just so they can participate in athletics.

In every grade, a child should have to sit down with a teacher or counselor at the beginning of the year and read something to the adult to prove that the child can read on his/her level. If they are not able to do that, then they should receive help, then find out how they passed the grade before without catching up on his/her reading skills.

I agree with the other post, but the school system needs to find a solution and quit passing children in elementary school just because they are in L.D. classes. Because they do not inform the parents when your child gets to high school they will be put in regular classes and they have to pass on their own. The I.E.P. team needs to put a long term plan in place for your child in elementary school so by the time they reach high school they will be able to do the work.  I believe this is a big problem because once a child gets in 9th grade and he or she can’t read it just goes down hill from their.  The odds are stacked against the them from the beginning. The teachers do not have the time to put in with children like this.  I have seen this first hand.
One other problem is that the elementary school will not test your child until second grade and it takes most of that year before you get the results, so a child has been in school for almost three years and hasn’t accomplished much.

Good morning on the rise in dropouts I believe that is due to family participation and expectations.  There are more and more children raising themselves and the parents aren’t held accountable for anything.  Also No Child Left Behind is a big problem.  We test these kids to death but are not able to teach to them. There is no fun in school anymore.  There isn’t time for fun to many test to prepare for.  I graduated in 1984 and I feel that I have been a productive citizen and have been able to take care of myself well with the education I received, and I loved school.  We had recess everyday from 1st grade to graduation.  Let’s let the kids be kids.  We are not in Japan where they choose who goes to school.  We, the United States, gives each child an education.  Let’s go back to where the teacher’s could teach and if a child didn’t understand we could take the time and reteach it.  Let’s do away with No Child Left Behind and get the parents involved.