Feb. 14, 2017
Arthur Griffin believes that a little-known N.C. tool already in place might give an additional and useful picture of whether CMS is preparing all students for a productive future.
The tool would be aggregate data on diploma “endorsements.” The endorsement stickers that are attached to individual N.C. students’ graduation diplomas are awarded to students who met state standards for being prepared for either vocational or post-secondary educational success. There are five separate endorsements for elements to such “career or college ready” success. N.C. students may be enrolled in a high school that voluntarily issues one or more such endorsement to qualified students.
In a video since taken down from the CMS website, Griffin reported to the board his limited success in obtaining data because he is neither a legislator not a member of the State Board of Education. He asked the board to ask its staff for a “comprehensive” report on the data related to CMS graduates. When Board Chair Mary McCray asked Supt. Ann Clark whether that would be possible, Clark replied, “Absolutely.”