Some ask delay for exit exam

By By Lisa Shafer

July 7, 2000 Web posted at: 4:13 PM EDT (2013 GMT)

CONTRA COSTA, California (Contra Costa Times) -- California should consider postponing its high school exit exam, scheduled to be the gateway to a diploma beginning with this fall's high school freshmen, according to a report delivered Wednesday to state lawmakers.

A Virginia company commissioned by the state to evaluate the progress of the high school exit test said in its 80-page report that while California is on the right track in developing the exam, its students might not be prepared to pass it.

"The State Board of Education, Legislature, and Governor should give serious consideration to postponing full implementation of the (exit exam) requirement by one or two years," wrote evaluator Human Resources Research Organization.

The group noted that at least one in every four high school sophomores who tested the exit exam in May had not received instruction that would allow them to correctly answer a majority of the test questions.

	More from Contra Costa Times
	Protesters want Pinole hospital to save skilled nursing facility Boy, 16, testifies that Pittsburg official molested him New accountability plan upsets Concord employees Livermore debates 'Q' aim Dublin's business leaders sought

Of all education reforms enacted by the Davis administration, the exit exam holds the highest stakes for students.

As it stands, the class of 2004 will be the first required to pass the exam to graduate from high school.

Freshmen may take the exam voluntarily next spring. By their sophomore year, if they have not already passed, all will be required to take it. Schools are required to let students attempt the exam multiple times.

But because many California schools are not teaching students what the state expects them to know, many students are likely to fail the exam, authors of the report concluded. They recommended that the state delay the high-stakes consequences of the exam until all schools are giving students the tools they need to pass.

Most of the potential problems cited in the report should be cleared up soon, said several state officials. They noted that, under the recently adopted budget, schools will receive record funds to purchase textbooks that are aligned to learning standards and to train their teachers on the new material.

"Because (the report) is an evaluation that was completed this spring, it is by its nature retrospective," said Ann Bancroft, spokeswoman for interim Education Secretary Sue Burr. "It doesn't take into account what districts will do with enormous infusions of money."

Bancroft also predicted that as schools learn more about the high school exam they will make sure they prepare their students to pass it.

"When you have the exam and then you have four years to absorb it, we think that is sufficient time," she said.

Both Bancroft and John Mockler, executive director of the state Board of Education, said they were unsure the sample testing of high school sophomores conducted this spring by exam designer American Institute for Research had provided enough data on which to measure its fairness.

They said more students likely would take practice exams this fall as the state refines the test.

Sophomores at five Contra Costa County high schools were among 7,500 who took sample exit exams this spring.

Even students at Monte Vista High, which earned a top 10 on the state's new ranking system, found some of the math questions difficult, said Leslie Anderson, director of instructional services for theSan Ramon Valley Unified School District.

The educator said she has concerns about how the state would handle testing of students who are still learning English or who have learning disabilities. She also said the exam comes at a time when schools are trying to cope with many other reforms.

"Personally, I think (the exit exam) is a little too quick," she said. "The kids (so far) are stepping up to the plate, but we're talking about something that is so high stakes."

For more Local news, myCNN.com will bring you news from the areas and subjects you select.

AZ, Phoenix, KPHO AZ, Phoenix, KTVK AZ, Phoenix, KUTP AZ, Tuscon, KOLD AZ, Tucson, KVOA CA, Eureka, KIEM CA, Fresno, KJEO CA, Fresno, KSEE CA, Los Angeles, KCAL CA, Los Angeles, KCBS   CA, Los Angeles, KCOP CA, Los Angeles, KTLA CA, Monterey, KSBW CA, Oakland, KTVU CA, San Diego, KSWB CA, San Francisco, KBHK CA, San Francisco, KBWB CA, San Francisco, KPIX CA, San Jose, KICU CA, San Jose, KNTV HI, Honolulu, KHON   NV, Las Vegas, KVVU NV, Reno, KOLO OR, Eugene, KVAL OR, Medford, KTVL UT, Salt Lake City, KSL WA, Seattle, KIRO WA, Seattle, NWCN WA, Seattle-Tacoma, KCPQ WA, Spokane, KXLY ID, Twin Falls, KMVT NV, Las Vegas, KTNV