HS Accountability - Red Shirt Your Freshmen

Accountability is a game. Play the game right and your students, your staff and your campus wins.  Play the game wrong and everyone suffers.

Recognizing this, I am baffled why high school leaders continuously place the burden of accountability on the shoulders of their most fragile students. Especially when the only reason to do so is the inability to be flexible in one’s thinking. Here’s what I mean.  In Texas, the high school accountability tests are:

Algebra 1, traditionally a freshman course.

English 1, traditionally a freshman course.

English 2, traditionally a sophomore course.

Biology, traditionally a freshman course.

U.S. History, now a junior level course.

Which means that the campus accountability rating is driven by:

Freshmen – 3 Tests

Sophomores – 1 Test

Juniors – 1 Test

But it doesn’t have to be that way.  Instead do this.

Leave History where it is.

Move Algebra 1 to the 10^th grade year. Have your freshman take Pre-Algebra (a local credit course). 

Move Biology to the 10^th grade year. Have your freshmen take IPC or Anatomy & Physiology.

Move English 1 to the 10^th grade year. Have your freshman take English 3.  Yes, you read that right. There are no prerequisites for any English course.

Move English 2 to the 11^th grade year.

By doing the above the campus accountability rating will be driven by:

Freshmen – 0 Tests

Sophomores – 3 Test

Juniors – 2 Tests

I like those odds. Play to win

Think. Work. Achieve.

Your turn...

• Call Jo at (832) 477-LEAD to order your campus set of “The Fundamental 5: The Formula for Quality Instruction.” Individual copies available on Amazon.com!  http://tinyurl.com/Fundamental5 
• Now at the Apple App Store: Fun 5 Timer (Fundamental 5 Delivery Tool); PowerWalks CLC (Networked Formative Observation Tool) 
• Upcoming Presentations: Texas Association of Secondary School Principals Conference (Multiple Presentations); Texas Elementary Principals and Supervisors Association Conference (Multiple Presentations); LYS / TASSP Advanced Leadership Academy (Keynote)
• Follow Sean Cain and LYS on www.Twitter.com/LYSNation  and like Lead Your School on Facebook