Poor and ESL is not an excuse to fail ...

[Betty Boop]

In California this year almost 47,000 high school seniors have a giant question mark as to whether they will be awarded high school diplomas in a few weeks or not. The argument that being poor and/or a youth learning English as a second language should excuse youth from minimum standards of 8th grade math and 10th grade English skills to graduate, the California State Supreme Court today reversed an Appellate Court Decision that said that requiring passing marks "discriminated" against the same. Finally, some common sense as to WHY California schools are failing. The Court acknowledges that making excuses for failures benefits no one.

In Los Angeles Unified, between 500-1,000 high school seniors did not cut the muster - but Supt. Romer has stated that those students who are committed to passing the exam and taking classes over the summer, will be allowed to walk across the stage as part of Class of 2006 in L.A Unified.

The State Exit Exam has actually been administered for several years now, although this is the first class that was required to pass it to receive the diploma. My kids passed it as freshmen - as they said, it isn't that hard ...

From the Los Angeles Times
High School Exit Exam Reinstated for Class of 2006

By Jesus Sanchez
Times Staff Writer

May 24, 2006, 4:38 PM PDT

Tens of thousands of California high school seniors who have failed the state exit exam will not receive their diplomas after the state Supreme Court today reinstated the test as schools statewide prepare for graduation ceremonies.

The state high court granted a request by the state education department to lift a nearly two-week old injunction that had blocked the use of the tests to determine whether students could graduate. An estimated 47,000 students have failed the exam.

The case was sent to the state appellate court for further action.

"School districts can continue their graduation exercises as planned before this litigation began," said State Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell during a press conference this afternoon.

"We will not give up on the students who are still struggling to pass. They will continue to be given every option to master those skills they will need in order to succeed beyond high school," he said.

The Supreme Court justices stayed a May 12 decision by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Robert B. Freedman, who issued a preliminary injunction against the mandatory testing requirement, ruling that it places an unfair burden on poor and minority students who attend low-performing schools.

The challenge to the exit exam was filed by attorney Arturo Gonzalez on behalf of a group of students and their parents.

Gonzalez today said his clients would continue to fight the test in court.

"The Supreme Court did not say that Judge Freedman was wrong," Gonzalez said in a statement. "Four justices simply questioned whether allowing our clients to graduate was the appropriate remedy. We intend to demonstrate that the relief was proper. If the constitutional rights of our children are violated, we cannot punish them further by depriving them of a diploma that they have rightfully earned by passing all required courses."

The legal battle has loomed over many of the 46,700 seniors statewide -- roughly 1 in 10 -- who have failed the two-part test. This year's 12th-graders were the first class to face the testing requirement, which includes a section on eighth-grade math and another on ninth- and 10th-grade English. Students are required to answer little more than half the questions correctly and can take the test multiple times. Students with learning disabilities are exempted from the test.

Originally slated for students in the class of 2004, the test was postponed for two years because of low passing rates. In January, O'Connell, who wrote the legislation mandating the exam in 1999, rejected calls from civil rights groups and others to consider alternatives to the test.

In issuing the injunction, Freedman said he was swayed by Gonzalez's argument that many impoverished and minority students -- particularly those learning English as a second language -- attend low-performing schools that do not prepare them for the test.

Of the 46,700 seniors who have failed the test, 20,600 are designated as limited English learners and 28,300 are poor.

Some of those students have retaken the tests, but it is not known how many may have passed.

— Times staff writers Joel Rubin and Seema Mehta contributed to this story.
Copyright © 2006, The Los Angeles Times

http://ktla.trb.com/news/ktla-timesh...ll=ktla-news-1

[Woodmonkey]

It's not that hard and they have five chances to pass it before graduation, and up to two years after they should have graduated to pass it.

If I recall correctly, 90% of students with English as a second language pass this and graduate on time. If that's so, then we are talking about 10% not passing it after 5 tries.

Do they include all students in this, even those who are on a modified diploma tract?

[Betty Boop]

I don't know if they included "modified tract" or not. While I am sure our district has such a thing, I have never heard of it. I do know that we have dumbed down our kids so much, that they expect the reward without doing the work in too many of California's schools. I believe our State Supreme Court should be applauded for recognizing that not passing the test and making the grades are just that! I know that my middle two took the test as freshmen and passed on their first try. Not being a BIG district witih lots of resources at ready disposal, there's something to be said for a no-nonsense approach to education that doesn't put "feeling good" above learning. The L.A. Unified kids will be expected to take prepatory remedial work and retake the test this summer in order to cross the platform in June with their peers.

[Woodmonkey]

Originally Posted by CalDreaming02

I don't know if they included "modified tract" or not. While I am sure our district has such a thing, I have never heard of it. I do know that we have dumbed down our kids so much, that they expect the reward without doing the work in too many of California's schools. I believe our State Supreme Court should be applauded for recognizing that not passing the test and making the grades are just that! I know that my middle two took the test as freshmen and passed on their first try. Not being a BIG district witih lots of resources at ready disposal, there's something to be said for a no-nonsense approach to education that doesn't put "feeling good" above learning. The L.A. Unified kids will be expected to take prepatory remedial work and retake the test this summer in order to cross the platform in June with their peers.

All districts have students who are on the modified tract. To simplify it, they are the trainable mentally retarded, the higher level retarded kids who are mainstreamed into regular education and the kids who are just above that level. The kids who are a lower level than that usually get a certificate of completion. Since they usually only read at a 4th to 6th grade level (if that high), they couldn't pass a test like this one.

[Betty Boop]

Now, I know which kids are you referring to - they are our Special Saints at the high school (our school mascot is a Saint) - and they are included in every aspect of the high school activities program but have their special education classes geared to just what their capabilities are.

This is off topic, but one of the first things my oldest noted when we moved here was how in Pasadena those kids would have been made fun of, but here, in this much smaller community, those kids are included and supported and truly loved - and none of the kids tolerate unkindnesses to these special kids with special needs.

I know that California was/will award "Certificate of Completion" to seniors who complete the state mandated course and credits requirement but cannot pass the state exit examination.

[DocDiggs]

Originally Posted by Woodmonkey

It's not that hard and they have five chances to pass it before graduation, and up to two years after they should have graduated to pass it.

If I recall correctly, 90% of students with English as a second language pass this and graduate on time. If that's so, then we are talking about 10% not passing it after 5 tries.

Do they include all students in this, even those who are on a modified diploma tract?

The majority of these students who are unable to pass it the first time will not go back for more tries. Their lives carry them on into having to get jobs, help support their families, accept adult responsibilites, and so on. What good is going to school for such students if their future devolves onto passing a test? Isn't learning the important thing? Even good students often cannot perform on tests.

[DocDiggs]

Originally Posted by CalDreaming02

I don't know if they included "modified tract" or not. While I am sure our district has such a thing, I have never heard of it. I do know that we have dumbed down our kids so much, that they expect the reward without doing the work in too many of California's schools. I believe our State Supreme Court should be applauded for recognizing that not passing the test and making the grades are just that! I know that my middle two took the test as freshmen and passed on their first try. Not being a BIG district witih lots of resources at ready disposal, there's something to be said for a no-nonsense approach to education that doesn't put "feeling good" above learning. The L.A. Unified kids will be expected to take prepatory remedial work and retake the test this summer in order to cross the platform in June with their peers.

Are your kids poor or disadvantaged, or learning disabled, or a minority? Those are generally the kids who are not passing these ridiculous tests.