Reply #9: Agree with most of this. Re multiple-pathways & rigor in #3: [View All]

Multiple-pathways, to me, would be created in educational malls, open year round, from 8a - 8p.

I don't think attendance should determine $upport. The schools should just be there, with a variety of appropriate curriculum options, for whoever shows up, WHEN-ever they show up, no matter their age.

There should be whole libraries of tests/assessments available, with SME support, for students, families, and other stake-holders to select from and assessment should occur whenever there's a substantial question about a student's apptitude or progress.

Rigor #1: There should be an ongoing discussion of standards amongst all stakeholders with the objective of arriving at as much concensus as possible all of the way from the Grassroots to the Federal government. This means, of course, that at least some benchmarks will have options, but the important the important thing would be to create some degree of unanimity about all of it.

Rigor #2: We also need some degree of unanimity in the Grading process. This will also require public discussion of various acceptable methodologies and options. Evaluations should be authentic, wieghts should reflect the full spectrum of a students strengths and weaknesses: STOP this BS about teaching kids (only) in a manner appropriate to his/her "learning style".

Parents should, indeed, be involved in every aspect of this, collaboratively, with a voice proportionate to the concrete responsibility they have demonstrated. Just as other elements of education are assessed for their merit, so should parents be.