The Board of Trustees expressed support Tuesday for offering some kind of a certificate to regular education students who meet the district’s graduation requirements, but fail to pass the state exit exam, although the trustees have yet to formally vote on and pass a district policy. The board was undecided what to call the certificate, but, the trustees said, due to the small number of students this policy would apply to and evidence that these students are actively trying to pass the test, offering the students a certificate would be appropriate. Giving students the certificate would also allow them to participate in the graduation ceremony and all end-of-year senior activities, something especially meaningful to many of the students and their parents, said Assistant Superintendent Cindy Galbo.
“I have a place in my heart for these students because they’ve tried their best,” said Superintendent John Casey. “Should they still be able to participate in senior activities with their fellow students? Well, I think they should.”
Trustees had previously expressed concern that many of the regular education students who have not passed the exit exam are English Language Learning (EL) students. Noting this disadvantage, trustees had recommended establishing a policy where EL students could receive a certificate but non-EL students in the same predicament would not. Galbo advised against this based on consultation she received from other districts and attorneys, who said such a policy would create different standards for different students. Trustee Weaver suggested bringing each student to the board on a case-by-case basis to decide whether a student receives a certificate or not, but again, Galbo said there needs to be one policy on how certificates will be awarded.
Who’s affected?
There are currently 29 seniors in the district who have not passed the math portion of the exit exam and 12 of those students have met the district’s graduation requirements. Of the 29 students, 19 are regular education students and 10 are special education students. From the 19 regular education students, nine are EL students. In the English portion of the test, 27 students have not passed and of that 27, 21 are regular education students and six are special education students. Of the 21 regular education students, 15 are EL students. Sixteen of the 27 students have met the district’s graduation requirements. Several of the students have not passed either the English or math portion and are counted twice, meaning the actual number of students who need to pass the exit exam is 23, said Director of Secondary School Curriculum Diane Howell.
What’s the test?
The exit exam is divided into math and English sections. The English portion tests at a 10th grade level, but includes questions starting from sixth grade, and the math portion tests Algebra I skills. Students need a score of 350 on both tests to pass. The Class of 2006 is the first class required to pass the state-mandated exit exam in order to graduate. They first took the test their sophomore year and students who did not pass then have had several chances to take it during their junior and senior years.
Seniors who have not yet passed the test took it again in February and the district will receive their scores in the next few months. Students who still have not passed the test can take it again in May, but they will not know their scores until after the graduation ceremonies in June. However, Howell was very optimistic that many of the students who took the test in February will pass because several were only 40 more points or less from passing when they took the test earlier in the school year.
Paths to success
Special education students who meet the district’s graduation requirements but do not pass the state exit exam or Algebra I will receive a Certificate of Educational Achievement. Special education students eligible for Individual Education Plans or IEPs (individualized plans for accommodating disabled students) will receive a Certificate of Completion. This policy was approved by the trustees during the Feb. 28 meeting as a consent agenda item. Until 2007, special ed students are exempt from having to pass the exit exam to graduate. The trustees agreed that any certificates offered to regular education students should be named something different than what is awarded to special ed students.
Howell said the district is also working with students who have not passed the exit and are ineligible for graduation, helping them and their families decide whether the student should enroll in a fifth year of high school, sign up for courses in Adult Education or at a community college or attempt for a General Education Diploma (GED). Trustee Pat Kernan said knowing the district is actively helping students reach high school graduation was more important to him than whether they are offered a certificate or not.
“Once kids think the goal is unattainable they become truant, and we don’t want that,” Kernan said. “We are giving them paths to follow, and that is much more important than whether they get a diploma or not.”
The trustees will vote on a formal policy for regular education students at the March 14 meeting.
