| JUDITH
SCOTT - JSCOTT@SIERRASTAR.COM
As
of June 13, Jack O’Connell, state superintendent of public instruction,
released a letter on the California Department of Education Website (www.cde.ca.gov)
stating that the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) has
canceled the test session for July. It is possible that the test dates
for September and November will also be canceled.
A meeting is scheduled in July with State Board of Education members,
and Superintendent O’Connell will recommend that certain measures be taken
for future testing:
• Delay the graduation requirement to pass the CAHSEE until 2006.
• Recognize those students who have passed both parts of the CAHSEE.
• Reduce both the length of the test and the number of days it is administered.
Superintendent O’Connell states that he believes that the Board will “postpone
the graduation requirement in July.” What he would like to achieve is
to delay testing for the 2004 and 2005 graduating years. What this means,
according to O’Connell, “I want to maintain the positive momentum created
by the CAHSEE by requiring students in the class of 2006 to take it as
10th-graders beginning in January 2004.”
The last page of the letter from Superintendent O’Connell shows the test
scores from 2004 and 2005 cohorts. The percentage of students from the
2004 cohort that passed the exam was 64 percent for the English-language
arts, and 44 percent for the mathematics section. The percentage of students
from 2005 cohort that passed the exam was 79 percent for the English-language
arts, and 60 percent for the mathematics section.
How
does this affect us locally?
Steve Raupp, principal of Yosemite High School, stated that there is a
“high level of concern in California about the exit exam.” But for Mr.
Raupp, the concern is not as great.
An article printed in the Sierra Star [June 6] indicated that 97 percent
of the 2004 class have successfully passed the English-language arts portion,
and 90 percent have passed the mathematical section of the exit exam.
As for the 2005 class, this was their first year taking the exam and 91
percent passed the English-language arts section, and 71 percent passed
the math portion. According to Mr. Raupp, “twenty-five students still
need to pass the test,” which accounts for approximately 10 percent of
the junior class. “We’ve been pushing hard to get kids to pass the test,”
said Mr. Raupp.
Surveys were conducted prior to the creation of the exit exam to determine
the educational requirements. Mr. Raupp stated that the state has gone
to great lengths to insure the needs of the students, and has invested
“a great deal of time focused on this deal.” And even though the numbers
of students that passed the exam appear to be on the rise, Mr. Raupp believes
that the state is facing litigation, as well as political backlash for
those left behind in the 2004 graduating class. Of course, Mr. Raupp also
admits, “we’re very fortunate ... we’ve only got a thousand kids.”
In other words, for school districts the size of Los Angeles and Fresno,
the number of students graduating next June with a certificate of completion
could be a reality. A certificate of completion is a document that indicates
that the student completed the necessary course work, but failed to pass
the California High School Exit Exam. Mr. Raupp believes that the student
that graduates with a certificate of completion has until the summer following
graduation to take the examination one more time in an attempt to pass
and receive a diploma.
Mr. Raupp admits that even though the 2004 and 2005 classes may not be
required to pass the CAHSEE, the existence of the exam has created “a
sense of urgency.” The focus of the exit exam is a reform effort, and
an attempt to hold the students accountable, according to Mr. Raupp.
If the State Board of Education does approve the recommendations by Superintendent
O’Connell, the 2006 graduating class will begin taking the CAHSEE in January
2004. Once the final word is sent from Sacramento as to the fate of the
CAHSEE examination, whether it will include or exclude the 2004 and 2005
graduating classes, Mr. Raupp assures that students and parents will be
notified.
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