In a move signaling needed improvements on the California High
School Exit Exam, the July administration of the exam has been
canceled.
In a move signaling needed improvements on the California High School Exit Exam, the July administration of the exam has been canceled.
The three-day testing period set for the end of July was canceled Friday by Jack O’Connell, state superintendent of instruction. O’Connell anticipates that the State Board of Education will stay the graduation requirements for at least a year so that the class of 2004 can graduate without passing the CAHSEE.
“This is a huge deal,” said Jean Burns Slater, superintendent of the San Benito High School District. “He’s (O’Connell) the one that originally passed the High School Exit Exam Bill while in the Assembly.”
The July administration was canceled to help schools plan their summer school class offerings. Most high schools in the state were set to offer exit exam preparation classes in language arts and math, including SBHS and Anzar High School.
The cancellation also saves the state $1.3 million that it costs to administer the exam.
While the exit exam cancellation and possible stay will benefit students in the class of 2004 who would not graduate high school with a diploma without passing the test, there are negative effects.
Slater said a stay would depreciate education reform and improvements California students, staff and schools have made.
“I’m afraid it could devalue all the hard work so far,” she said. “Students might not take it seriously. They’ll think it will just be postponed again.”
How long the Board delays the requirement is also an issue that will take some important consideration.
“I see them staying the exam, but I’m curious to see how long they stay it. They have to make a decision and stick with it. If not, the Board will invalidate it (the CAHSEE). Otherwise, students (and educators) don’t know the value of the test.”
One main reason for staying the exit exam is that students have not been exposed to the content standards the test is gauging, Slater said.
“I think many people feel that students did not have the standards in place when they started their education,” she said. “Many students that are being tested did not receive the foundation (of the standards) in elementary and middle schools. The standards were not in place then. They didn’t have a chance to be exposed to those standards.”
While the State Board of Education had its monthly meeting Wednesday and Thursday, the Board took no action on the CAHSEE.
At its July 9 and 10 meeting, the Board is expected to act on the issue, according to educators across the state, including O’Connell. O’Connell will recommend the Board delay the requirement until 2006 and reduce the length of the test and the number of days it’s administered.
O’Connell is suggesting a delay because a state study report indicated that “many factors suggest that the effectiveness of standards-based instruction will improve for each succeeding class (after the class of 2004).”
If the delay is approved, O’Connell said he plans to cancel the September and November administrations of the CAHSEE as well.
“It’s quite a big step,” Slater said. “I think, with looking at shortening the test, he’s (O’Connell) starting to see the impact of testing. With the No Child Left Behind Act … there’s an overwhelming burden on schools.”
