WEST MONROE, Louisiana (Achieve3000, December 30, 2009

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WEST MONROE, Louisiana (Achieve3000, December 30, 2009). More Louisiana classrooms may soon
resemble teacher Wes Sebren's, equipped with welding gear, safety goggles, and circular saws. The changes are
part of the state's new "career diploma" program. The program is designed for students preparing to enter a
technical or vocational college after graduation, as well as those planning to enter the workforce without a college
diploma. Parents and students are expected to welcome the new diploma option. Critics, however, are
unimpressed.
Students opting to follow the path toward earning a career diploma as an alternative to the typical academic
diploma take classes that teach various skills. These skills include welding, woodworking, and small engine repair.
Classes like these are already offered at many Louisiana high schools. The new diploma path, however, gives the
classes greater importance. Louisiana has 68 public school districts. Currently, just 12 offer freshmen the option of
earning a career diploma. That will soon change. According to school administrators, most of the state's high
schools will offer the new diploma when the new school year commences.
Educators say they expect the skills-based classes to be popular with students who expect to attend community or
technical college after high school, and those planning to enter the workforce directly.
Kent Davis is superintendent of a Louisiana school district. "Kids will get into it because their ambitions seem to
be to get prepared for work in electronics, welding, carpentry," said Davis. "I feel like [the new diploma] will be
very [helpful] to our kids, the ones that are not going to go to [four-year] college."
The career diploma program was launched in an effort to encourage more young people to stay in school. Roughly
one-third of Louisiana's high school students drop out or otherwise don't graduate. And that figure is an
improvement over previous years. In 1996, for example, 46 percent of Louisiana's students failed to graduate.
So far, the skills-based courses appear to be sparking students' interest in school. They are also having a positive
effect on report cards. Aline Snead's son D.J. is a junior at West Ouachita High. Snead noticed a jump in D.J.'s
grades. This happened while he was in Wes Sebren's car repair class. The former "C" math student, she said, is
now an honors math student.
But critics —including some educators—disagree that students will ultimately benefit from the new diploma
option. They claim that more young people will graduate only because career diploma classes will be less
challenging. Students who follow this new path, critics argue, will learn less than students seeking a typical
diploma. They might not push themselves to improve their academic skills. Instead, students will simply opt to
follow the career diploma path. This move makes it easier to pass the mandatory standardized tests. These
graduates, critics argue, will lack adequate skills in reading, writing, and basic math.
Many parents and teachers, however, including Wes Sebren, disagree. Sebren argues that students in his classes
learn basic math and other skills involved in business. Sebren cited his welding course. One of his students is
making a steel barbecue pit. Projects like these, Sebren said, can improve a student's math skills. For example, the
students must calculate the exact angles where the pieces of steel get welded together. Students must also calculate
how much to sell the pit for when it's complete. This involves factoring in costs for materials and labor. Students
also learn to market their work and write billing statements. This helps develop their English skills.
"They've got to know how to write if they're going to write a [bill] or an estimate," Sebren said. "They also have to
know how to present themselves. They have to know the basics."
Some parents, such as Aline Snead, say they want their children to have both the basic academic skills and the
practical workforce skills. Snead said that her son might pursue the academic diploma. However, she's encouraged
that he is also learning valuable workforce skills.
"College is my plan for him, but I'm glad that he'll have skills, that he'll be ready for the workforce, if he doesn't go
to college," Snead said. "[The career diploma is] not easier. It'll just be different, more practical."
1. Which of the following best describes one similarity between students who want to earn an academic diploma and
students who want to earn a career diploma?

Both are required to pass mandatory standardized tests.

Both will benefit from the new career diploma option.

Both learn basic academic skills and practical workforce skills.

Both find career diploma classes to be less challenging.
2. The article states:
Students who follow this new path, critics argue, will learn less than students seeking
a typical diploma.
Which would be the closest synonym for the word typical?

Standard

Routine

Prominent

Satisfactory
3. The best alternate headline for this article would be __________.

More High School Students Plan To Enter Workforce Directly

Parents Want Their Children To Have Practical Workforce Skills

One-Third of Louisiana's High School Students Don't Graduate

Opinions Vary About Louisiana's Career Diploma Program
4. Look at the following sentence from the article:
Students who follow this new path, critics argue, will learn less than students seeking a typical
diploma.
Why did the author include this information?

To explain why some people say the career diploma option is not a benefit to students

To discuss whether career diploma students should be required to take standardized tests

To demonstrate that the career diploma program is not well-planned

To encourage students to stick to earning the typical academic diploma
5. Which question is not answered by the article?

How many students in Louisiana have earned a career diploma?

How does a career diploma differ from an academic diploma?

Why are some people criticizing the career diploma program?

Why are some people in favor of the career diploma program?
6. The article states:
According to school administrators, most of the state's high schools will offer the new diploma when
the new school year commences.
Which would be the closest antonym for the word commence?

Conclude

Enlist

Debut

Preside
7. What cause and effect relationship is described in this article?

Parents welcome the career diploma option because it makes it easier for students to pass mandatory
standardized tests.

School officials created the career diploma program because many students lacked skills in reading, writing, and
basic math.

One student in the career diploma program is making a steel barbecue pit so that he can improve his math skills.

Some educators criticize the career diploma option because they claim that the classes are less challenging.
8. Which of these is a statement of opinion?

Louisiana's educators are doing a great service to students, communities, and the entire U.S. by offering the new
diploma.

Aline Snead's son D.J. used to be a "C" math student, but now he is an honors math student.

In 1996, 46 percent of students in the state of Louisiana failed to graduate from high school.

Currently, 12 of Louisiana's 68 public school districts offer freshmen students the option of earning a career
diploma.
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