Here’s a headline in today’s Chronicle:
New grad rate formula OK’d by 45 states, but not Texas
Oh no! What is wrong with Texas?
Texas was one of five states that did not agree to follow a standard formula to calculate high school graduation rates at a gathering of governors last weekend.
But if you make it to the fourth paragraph, you’ll find this:
Texas did not sign on because it already meets the pact’s standards, said Kathy Walt, spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Perry. The state no longer belongs to the organization, and Perry was not at the conference, she added.
Well, that provides some perspective to the rather alarmist headline. The story goes on to cite a critic of Texas’ method for calculating graduation rates, but doesn’t explore it in depth.
If there is something wrong with Texas’ methodology, then that should be the story. But that’s not what the DC bureau gave us.
