Abstract
The paper discusses the growing trend in the United States to end the practice of the "social promotion" of students who are not actually achieving the minimum learning standard at their current grade level, and to require high school graduation tests as a condition of receiving the high school diploma. The paper addresses the concerns of parents of special needs children who argue that it unfairly penalizes special needs students and also discusses how the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) has further complicated the situation. The writer of this paper believes that the key to rectifying the problem while achieving all of the conceptual benefits of graduation tests lies in designing graduation tests that are tailored appropriately to the specific needs and abilities of special needs students.

Outline:
Background of the Issue
Social Promotion Policy Issues
The Impact of the No Child Left Behind Act on Special Needs Students
Reconciling the Issues and Concerns
Developing a Policy to Benefit All Students

From the Paper
"A half century ago, it was standard educational policy to "leave back" public education students who failed to achieve minimum academic progress in their current grade. This practice was believed to achieve several purposes simultaneously: it allowed those students additional opportunities to learn the material necessary to progress to the next level of their studies; it minimized perpetual failure in subsequent grade levels after a single such failure to achieve minimum standards; and it often provided a more powerful incentive against academic failure among students who were capable of learning but resistant to do so. Educators often found that where the threat of detention or mandatory summer school failed to motivate reluctant students, the prospect of not being promoted with their classmates was a much more effective incentive (Davis, 1998).
"A few decades later, the concern among educators began to shift from holding back poorly achieving students to promoting them automatically and regardless of their poor performance. Partly, this was justified by the argument that holding students back from promotion to the next grade was too damaging to their self-esteem and positive self-image. Similarly, proponents of social promotion also suggested that holding students back from promotion to higher grades could result in undesirable social consequences in the classroom."

Tags:IEP, NCLB, testing, qualification

Abstract
This document discusses the college graduation rates among the three primary racial groups in the United States: White, Hispanic and African-American. The White college graduation rate is approximately 30% while the African-American is 18% and the Hispanic is currently an approximate 10%. This research compares a 1999/2000 study with more recent figures and the result is that there has been no real improvement in this college graduation divide between these racial groups.

From the Paper
"Because of the continuing trend for college graduates to earn increasingly more in the workplace than peers in the same age group without a college degree, identifying racial factors involved which may compound this trend is important. While the high school graduation rates among the three largest demographics in the United States: White, African-American, and Hispanic, have equalized somewhat over the last 20 years, the percentage of college graduates among these three racial groups have not (Morrison, 2000, p.32). This increasing gap between the number of White college graduates and the other two demographics is indicative of more pervasive racial inequalities beyond the educational. "

Tags:white, hispanic, african, american

Abstract
This paper evaluates why some high schools experience higher graduation rates among minorities than other high schools. The paper focuses on Hispanic and African American high school students. The paper investigates the factors that contribute to high minority graduation rates in certain states. In addition, the paper attempts to apply these factors to schools that have low minority graduation rates.

From the Paper
"As you can gather form these statistics, both Black and Latino students tend the have high graduation rates in certain districts such as, Boston Public Schools, Prince Georges County and Montgomery County. Likewise, these minority groups have low graduation rates in districts such as Cleveland city schools and Gwinnet County. The discrepancies in minority graduation rates have been recognized and are alarming to educators. Several studies have attempted to understand why this phenomenon is occurring."

Tags:success, failure, education, students

Abstract
The paper asserts that the skill set required for workplace training is somewhat related to that required for college; even jobs not requiring a bachelor's degree, require a certain minimum level of reading comprehension and mathematical skills for competence. The paper discusses how while entry level skills must be roughly equivalent, the skills of individuals with higher education are valued more highly in terms of salary than those who chose to receive on the job training. This paper examines the decisions that students must make for post graduation study or work.

From the Paper
"At sometime during a teenager's high school experience, he or she will inevitably ask the question, "should I go to college or should I take time off to work after high school?" This question is not one to be taken lightly, given that it is one that will ultimately determine the course of his or her adult life. Yet, is there a difference between the requirements needed for work or school? Some researchers would say that whether the student chooses to work or to go on to college, the skills required are the same. However, what are the consequences of the choices that are made? Are there really differences that the student should take into..."

Tags:education, work, earnings

Abstract
This essay discusses how stereotypes can negatively impact the potential for success of those against whom they are perpetrated. Using Maya Angelou's "Graduation in Stamps," the essay shows how stereotypes initially had a negative impact on the African-American author and how she was able to endure in spite of them through reaffirming her pride in her heritage.

From the Paper
"The experience of the young Maya Angelou, known then as Marguerite Johnson, at her high school graduation in Stamps, demonstrates how readily people stereotype different ethnic groups or cultures. Stereotyping often leads to discrimination and racism, though discrimination in and of itself is not a dirty word. If we could not discriminate as human beings, we would not be able to make our way across the room daily. However, negative forms of discrimination often arise from stereotypes, thus pigeonholing entire groups of people. At Angelou's graduation..."

Tags:blacks, education, poverty, Baptists, James Weldon Johnson, poetry, academics, high school

Abstract
Graduation exams are common to other industrialized nations, but their opponents in the U.S. have accused test writers of racism, since students of color and from poor families routinely test lower than majority, middle-class students. The paper argues for enriching students' time outside of school, rather than intimidating them with tests.

Abstract
The writer relates that; "Only a few years ago, I was sitting where you are today. You are here to graduate from your ANCOC army leadership training program, and I once took the same courses and graduated to go on to my current role as a non-commissioned officer. What you have learned will hold you in good stead in today's military and prepare you for leadership for the future."

From the Paper
"Audience 30 ANCOC graduates Subordinates Subject: Leadership Challenges Subject known to audience II. Information Briefing To inform and congratulate To recall the training given and to indicate what the future may hold III. ANCOC Training..."

Tags:graduation, speech, ancoc

Abstract
The reveals that students with disabilities are all too often graduating high school completely unprepared to function effectively in the real world. The paper presents the thesis that inclusion many times is characterized merely by the student with disabilities being present in the same general classroom as other students and not equally represented in the receipt of proper educational provisions for learning. The paper outlines the research questions and methodology to be utilized and provides a literature review. The paper calls for more research in this area of study.

Outline:
Statement of the Problem
Statement of Thesis
Hypothesis
Research Questions
Methodology
Literature Review
Summary
Limitations

From the Paper
"The work of Heal and Rusch (1995) entitled: "Predicting Employment for Students Who Leave Special Education High School Programs" reports a "...hierarchical regression analysis" that included 35 community, family, student and school program characteristics entered in a controlled order and used to assess prediction of employment. Study results demonstrate that personal characteristics (being male and having living and academic skills) predicted whether the individual would be employed following high school graduation. Also contributing to this prediction significantly were factors of family income, proxy for social status, while school programs' effect was minimal when student competence and family characteristics had been controlled statistically. (Heal and Rusch, 1995)"

Tags:disabilities, employment, transition

From the Paper
"Maya Angelou's short essay "Graduation in Stamps" is a portion of her autobiographical work "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings". This particular section tells of he graduation from the eighth grade in Stamps, Arkansas. Her recollection of that day is the recollection of a girl who began the day with high hopes, ready for the most wonderful experience of her life, and ended it in some bitterness as she encountered the ingrained racism and sexism of her day.

Maya Angelou's given name is Marguerita, and she was born in 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri. She attended public schools in Arkansas and California. She also studied music; dance with Martha Graham, Pearl Primus, and Ann Halprin; and drama with Frank Silvera and Gene Frankel. She has had a career as author, poet, professional stage and screen performer, and singer."

Tags:

Abstract
This paper presents a research proposal that examines the relationship of absenteeism on the failure to graduate from high school. Factors that lead to dropping out of high school that contribute to absenteeism such as illness, family problems and economic reasons are examined, as well as the relationship of student motivation to academic performance.

From the Paper
"Studies have investigated factors that may be related to dropping out of high school or graduating from high school and found them to ..."

Tags:absenteeism, graduation