Three-fourths also said students who have not mastered English should not graduate, and a similar percentage said schools should promote only students who master the material. Almost two-thirds reported they could do much better in school if they tried. Nearly 80 percent said students would learn more if schools made sure they were on time and did their homework. More than 70 percent said schools should require after-school classes for those earning D's and F's. To hold schools accountable there must be clear and precise standards that each individual school district and then each individual school site must meet.
Standards driven reform is an idea that has been sweeping across the nation.
Oklahoma attempted to establish the process for standards based reform over 3 years ago. HB 1100 would have required each school site to have specific goals to achieve in the area of test scores, improved attendance, reduced drop-out rate, etc. Good standards must be clear. They must be measurable. They must be rigorous.