An opportunity to voice your opinion about credit recovery for students

July 9, 6:07 PMNY Education ExaminerLorri Giovinco-Harte

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Credit recovery is the process by which students are provided with the opportunity to make up failed or incomplete courses in a relatively short period of time.

Advocates of the process see it as providing a necessary option for children who need a second chance in order to graduate.  Personal and academic problems can plague even the most hardworking of children during their school career.

Critics fear it is being used as a way to boost graduation rates for schools.  They also worry about what such a process teaches children - if a child can fail or simply avoid a semester of a class and then make it up in two or three days, what will this teach them?  In addition, what message does this send to the children who attend class every day for a semester and complete all of their assigned work?

Finally, there is a concern about the information and skills which children have missed during an entire semester of class.  How can a 2 or 3 day period of time make up for the hours of information children will be missing?

There is no doubt that the concept is drawing controversy and eliciting a variety of opinions.

New York State is seeking opinions about Part 100 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education which is related to credit recovery.  They are asking parents, teachers, students, and members of local Boards of Education to participate in a survey about the effectiveness and appropriateness of credit recovery.  The survey, which will be available online until August, asks a few short questions and provides space for personal comments.

To take the survey, visit the following site: http://www.forms2.nysed.gov/emsc/ciai/MakeUp.cfm