WHAT!!! No high school graduation rate data?!!!

Why Not???!!!

The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) just released new non-academic data for the state – sort of.

The problem is the most important information – namely Kentucky’s very first high school graduation rate data using a credible formula instead of inflated nonsense – is NOT included.

The news release excuses: “to ensure data quality and integrity, a thorough review of school and district graduation rates is being implemented. Graduation rate data will be released in August 2011.”

I’m sorry, but that excuse does not wash.

When you look at Kentucky’s deplorable history concerning graduation and dropout reporting, the KDE comes across as seriously unable to implement something that has been a known requirement for three years.

Along the way, the KDE unfortunately creates an impression that it is standing in the way of public transparency on an absolutely critical set of education data – data that is currently a hot discussion item even with the governor’s wife.

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