There’s no denying there’s an overwhelming burden on schools
these days with the No Child Left Behind Act, but we can’t let our
students fail certain lessons.
There’s no denying there’s an overwhelming burden on schools these days with the No Child Left Behind Act, but we can’t let our students fail certain lessons.
First, in a move signaling improvements are needed on the California High School Exit Exam, the July administration of the exam was canceled. And educators anticipate the State Board of Education will stay the graduation requirements for at least a year during its meeting July 9-10 so the class of 2004 can graduate without passing the exit exam.
While the cancellation and possible stay will benefit students in the class of 2004 who would not graduate high school without passing the test, there are negative effects. San Benito High School District Superintendent Jean Burns Slater said it best, saying 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. Students might not take it seriously. They’ll think it will just be postponed again,” she told the Free Lance.
Slater is absolutely right. This test is the benchmark for gauging if schools are meeting students’ need.
In terms of testing statistics and academic performance, the CAHSEE test results have the most significance in the overall picture because the test measures the performance of all students and does not differentiate for socio-economic background.
The exam is a practical assessment of basic English and math skills, with emphasis on the word “basic.” The law was implemented by the state legislature in 1999 and requires students to display a 10th-grade level of competence in mathematics and English.
However, students are having a difficult time passing it. Earlier this year, 84 percent of SBHS students passed the English portion while about 66 percent passed the math. Also, in a study by the Human Resources Research Organization, at least 20 percent of students of the class of 2004 in the state will fail the mathematics portion.
However, Slater is also smart enough to see the other side. One reason for staying the exam is students have not been exposed to the content standards the test is gauging. Students didn’t received the foundation during their middle and elementary schools education. Even the author of the exit exam has said the curriculum hasn’t been there for students to succeed, and there has been talk of delaying the exam for three years.
Delay, however, would be a serious mistake. Federal monies are tied to test results and if failure on the test is eliminated, the motivating factor to do well is gone and the number of students not passing the test will go up.
Even with the exit exam, students are having a difficult time in high school. Of the nearly 1,800 students taking summer school at SBHS, more than 1,600 are their for remediation, more than have of the student body of 2,700.
What this indicates, like Slater has pointed out, the curriculum foundation to succeed, with all the high school tests required, is not in place at the middle and elementary levels.
While delaying the exit exam for years is not the answer, curriculum needs to be in place for students to excel.
But, if students can graduate without performing at a sophomore proficiency in two subjects, what is that telling students, schools and educators?
