Questions for the day.

I am quite knowledgeable about college preparatory science and math in grades 9-12 but I am not competent to comment on other areas.  Therefore, please interpret my comments to refer specifically to 9-12 college prep math and science.

1. I would hope a Master Plan would mean that every student in every school district had the same opportunity to prepare for entry into college so that he/she could be successful.  Far too many students with interests in math and science enter college and fail (change their major) because they were not properly prepared for the work.

2. A state-level Master Plan will have no effect on classrooms across the state unless some method of inforcement is present.  Having the schools list how many students passed chemistry is a useless piece of information - when the chemistry class is sub-standard.  

3.  Accountability must involve testing but the tests must be appropriate tests and reasonable interpretation of the results is vital.  Releasing raw data to the public is irresponsible.  Someone must interpret the data.