L’Observateur / June 27, 2000

It was a curious concept brought last week before the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to issue “provisional diplomas” to those students who pass the eighth-grade LEAP exam, pass their necessary units in high school, but flunk the now-mandatory Graduate Exit Exam.

Suggested by a BESE committee, the plan aims to slash the current 40 dropout rate among Louisiana high school students. BESE member DonnaContois of Metairie promotes the notion to keep discouraged borderline students in school.

Many educators around the state, however, think it’s a hair-brained scheme that will cripple efforts to raise educational standards in a state considered one of the lowest in the nation.

On one side, provisional diplomas give struggling students hope to achieve at least some sort of certificate of completion and allow them to attend graduation ceremonies with their more successful peers. It gives themsome sense of achievement, even when they are unable to pass one particular standardized test, and allows them to move on with their lives.

On the other side, allowing these students to walk at graduation cheapens the effort put forth by those more successful graduates. It is alsoquestionable what value will be placed by potential employers on a provisional diploma.

One St. Charles Parish educator likened it to the difference between anhonorable and a general discharge from the armed services. A St. JohnParish educator added it flies in the face of all efforts to improve public education.

A question also remains whether any college, university or vocational- technical school would recognize a provisional diploma prior to admission.

Also, a provisional diploma may mark a student as “second-class” and cripple their prospects forever.

Some students, in their immaturity, may see provisional diplomas as an “easy out” and mark time through their high school years without making the effort to meet their potential and shortchange themselves.

It would be a shame for Louisiana to embarrass itself by permitting this option. Obviously, not every child is fitted for college, but basic standardsmust be set and opportunities offered for every child to reach their maximum potential.

Letting a child slide through high school and gain any sort of diploma because of their own laziness or lack of maturity is irresponsible at the least. It cripples educational discipline and cheapens the efforts alreadymade and also contemplated to raise Louisiana from the muck of the low end of educational standards across America.

Call your local BESE member and voice your opposition to provisional diplomas. It’s good parenting and good for education to do so.

– L’Observateur

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