Nevada joins pilot education program

Jennifer Knight

Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2001 | 9:44 a.m.

Nevada is among five states chosen to participate in a pilot program aimed at creating high school graduation standards to better prepare students for college and the business world.

The American Diploma Project is a partnership involving the governor's office, the Nevada Manufacturer's Association, the university system and K-12 educators. The program's goal is to create new standards for English language arts and math.

Sponsors of the project were expected this morning to meet with state educators for the first time to review fundamental aspects of the program.

"I think what this might do eventually is let kids know what is really expected of them," said Jane Nichols, Nevada's higher education chancellor.

Today's meeting is the first concerted effort by both higher and primary educators to identify and fill holes in Nevada's educational system.

"That communication (between K-12 and higher education) really doesn't exist right now," said Jack McLaughlin, Nevada's superintendent of public instruction. "It's difficult to be criticized on the one hand and yet not have any information as to what we need to know to do something."

Nevada has the second highest high school dropout rate in the nation. The state's college completion rate is also poor -- only 12.4 percent of Nevadans have four-year degrees, and just 5.9 percent obtain graduate or professional degrees.

Aside from complaints about the poor quality of education at the primary level, McLaughlin said that business leaders commonly complain that students aren't properly trained when they enter the work force.

Regents of the University and Community College System of Nevada have already requested that admission standards be raised to ensure that students are better prepared to enter college.

McLauglin said that raising admissions standards is not the answer to helping students succeed, but learning what higher education and business people need from the school district may be.

Indiana, Texas, Kentucky and Massachusets will also participate in the nationwide education reform effort.

After today's initial meeting, representatives of all five states will meet in Washington on Nov. 30 to identify a common set of goals.