Re: Cal. Exit Exam Leads to More Dropouts

[aburke5054@aol.com]

The representative of the advocacy organization said essentially that 
some children attend such poor schools and have such poor teachers that 
it would be an injustice to test them.  So at root this is not a 
testing problem at all, the problem is poor educational quality for 
many children.   But no one could oppose efforts to improve schools and 
teaching, right?   It's not like if a test were part of a system to 
improve schools and a teacher didn't like that and refused to give the 
test people would applaud that.  Nah, that could never happen.

Art

-----Original Message-----
From: Bob Schaeffer <bobschaeffer@earthlink.net>
To: ARN Main List <arn-l@interversity.org>; ARN State 
<ARN-state@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Thu, 8 Nov 2007 4:07 am
Subject: [arn-l] Cal. Exit Exam Leads to More Dropouts

MORE DROPOUTS AFTER EXIT EXAM

Associated Press -- November 7, 2007

by Juliet Williams


Sacramento  - The number of California high school dropouts spiked in
2006, the first year seniors were required to pass the state's exit 
exam
to graduate, according to a report presented Wednesday to the state
Board of Education.


California's high school graduation rate also fell by about 4 percent
from the previous year.


The analysis found that 24,000 high school seniors dropped out in 2006,
about 10,000 more than four years earlier.


The information could give ammunition to lawmakers and others who have
criticized the exam, as well as those who have lobbied for alternative
assessments.


The firm that prepared the report, Human Resources Research 
Organization
of Alexandria, Va., made seven recommendations to the board, including 
a
suggestion that California explore other ways for high school seniors 
to
demonstrate proficiency.


In Massachusetts and Washington state, for example, students can be
judged on a portfolio of their high school work.


Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell has consistently
opposed such an option. His chief deputy, Gavin Payne, told the board
that the superintendent thought all but one of the recommendations was
"extremely good."


The report's findings validate the position of exit exam opponents who
say the test is hardest on students who do not have access to good
schools or good teachers, said Liz Guillen, director of legislative and
community affairs for Public Advocates. That applies mostly to poor and
minority students, she said.


The San Francisco-based law firm has sued the state over the exam and
sought alternatives.


"As a moral and constitutional matter, before every student can be
required to pass the state's new hurdle, the state and its schools must
first ensure that ... all of those students have had an opportunity to
learn what is tested," she told the board.


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