New Madison County graduation policy ‘not without controversy’

The policy goes into effect for the class of 2011 if approved. Those students are currently sophomores.

“It’s not without controversy,” Madison County Schools superintendent Dr. Mitch McGhee told the county school board on Dec. 9 when the policy was presented.

The Madison County Board of Education (BOE) will vote on the proposal next month.

State schools superintendent Kathy Cox hasn’t mandated the policy, but strongly suggests systems adopt it.

Under Madison County’s current policy, seniors passing the required classes can still “walk” at graduation without having passed the graduation test. However, they receive no diploma.

“The perception is if you walk across that stage, you’ve graduated,” school board member chairman Jim Patton said at the Dec. 9 meeting. “We know that that is not always the case.”

During a telephone interview last week, McGhee explained that students must meet both local and state standards to graduate.

And the state standard is passing the graduation test. There are only handful of Madison County students who pass their classes but fail the graduation tests, according to McGhee.

“It’s not a whole lot of kids it’s going to affect,” he said.

However, only those who pass those graduation tests on the first try count toward Madison County High School’s graduation rate. The hope is that a stricter graduation policy will improve performance in first-time test-takers.

“There is some research out there that indicates that schools or school systems that have gone to this have seen an increase in kids that pass the first administration of the graduation test,” McGhee said.

Not everyone feels that this is the best solution.

Even in administrative staff meetings, there’s been disagreement over this proposal.

Some argue that students who fulfill all local requirements deserve some level of participation in graduation, McGhee said.

“You’ve done every single thing that the school system has asked you to do — you’re not giving them a diploma — but you ought to at least take part in the graduation ceremony with all of their peers,” McGhee said, paraphrasing the counter argument.

And the superintendent admits he has some mixed feelings about the policy as well. But, ultimately, he supports limiting graduation participation to those who meet both local and state graduation requirements.

“It is a bit controversial, and I have a little bit of mixed emotion about it,” he said. “But I do think it’s probably the way you ought to go.”
The BOE will vote on the proposal Jan. 13 at its next meeting.

Those wishing to express their opinion before then can email McGhee at mmcghee@madison.k12.ga.us, associate superintendent Allen McCannon at amccannon@.k12.ga.us or MCHS principal Dr. Tommy Craft at tcraft@madison.k12.ga.us.

“We are welcoming all public comment at this,” McGhee said.