Posted on 10/07/2005 4:56:18 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO (AP) - Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill Friday that would have given special education students a reprieve from the state's high-stakes exit exam.
The bill would have implemented a legal settlement between the California Department of Education and the Oakland-based Disability Rights Advocates, which filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of special education students. The bill sent to the governor by the Legislature differed from the settlement, however, and drew objections from the state's school superintendent.
Schwarzenegger also vetoed a bill that would have eased the exit exam rules by allowing high school students to graduate without passing the test if they instead passed an alternative performance assessment.
Assemblywoman Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, said her bill would have made California's requirements consistent with 27 other states.
In his veto statement, the governor said the Bass bill would have sent a message to "students, parents, teachers and administrators that we do not expect students to achieve at the highest levels."
The special education bill was opposed by Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell because it altered the terms negotiated by his office and the attorneys for the students. Among other changes, the legislation extended the one-year delay to two years.
"It's clear the governor has high expectations for all students," O'Connell said. "The governor's veto says we won't lower standards."
The students in the class of 2006 are the first required to pass the California High School Exit Exam before they can receive a diploma.
Results for the exit exam released earlier this month showed that half of the roughly 35,000 special education students in this year's senior class had not passed the math section. About 45 percent have yet to pass the English portion.
About 53 percent of special education students in the class of 2006 have failed to pass both the math and English portions of the exit exam. O'Connell's staff said they will have three more tries before graduation.
"It's really a terrible day for students with disabilities in California," said Roger Heller, a staff attorney with the Oakland-based advocacy group.
He said he expects the delay to happen, despite the veto, because "there are significant problems" with how the state has been educating students with special needs.
In the meantime, he said, "this is going to require litigation, which is time-consuming and costly. And you're talking about tens of thousands of kids that face a great deal of uncertainty."
O'Connell said lawmakers could take up the issue again in January as an urgency measure. If approved, would take effect before the end of the school year.
The settlement allowed for special education students in the class of 2006 to request an exemption.
The students would have to show they have taken the exit exam at least twice since their sophomore year and at least once during their senior year. They also would have to take remediation classes if offered by their district.
Schwarzenegger said the version passed by lawmakers altered the legal settlement and would "send the wrong message" to special education students. The bill would have doubled the length of the delay from one year to two. Instead of requiring students to take remedial courses during their senior year, the bill only would have required school districts to offer those classes.
The exit exam has come under fire from some education groups and legislators, who say it also discriminates against students who attend lower-achieving schools and those for whom English is not their primary language.
While in Orygun they are removing the 'D' grade.
And just what might that test be? A body temp. plus or minus 2 degrees from 98.6 F?
Let's face it, all many of these Educrats want are the funding that goes along with a warm body in attendance for a minimal amount of time so this is as good an 'Alternative performance assessment' as any. Heaven forbid that the system be required to demonstrate the production of well educated students! My sympathies to teachers who actually want to do a good job in this environment. /rant
What greater insult to the incompetence of teachers, than having 'graduates' have to take and pass a basic skills exam?
One would think that the teacher's job would depend upon the scores of their 'product'. If the 'products' under my control exceed 1% failure; and I am unable to correct this; I will be fired. If I can do consistently do less than 1%; Why can't a teacher manage 20%?
Some kids can't won't be educated no matter what you do to teach them.
Have you heard of the Edision Project? Essentially, the project started off with only the worst of the worst students from single unemployed mothers. The kids were picked up, clothed, fed breakfast, lunch and dinner; plus a PC for home and one for school. Teachers were paid 30% more than the going rate; with the caveat that their performance would dictate whether they had a job the next semester. No tenure, no Union. The Edison Project was sponsored by McDonalds, Sears, and others. The concept is different; where the schools take the same (or less) taxpayer money that is given on a per-student basis; and the school is ran as a FOR-PROFIT organization.
The results are nothing short of stellar.
I think the Edison project and Lovaas behavioral therapy prove that with dedicated teachers poor students can overcome otherwise insurmountable obstacles.
Unfortunately there are parents who actively undermine their own children. The unemployed single Edison moms may have loved their children.Children who live with cruel and indifferent parents/guardians will not be as successful academically as children who know at least one parent loves them. Parents who set their children up to fail should be fined.
I would also venture to wager that the 'alternative schools' don't get their panties in a bundle with regard to hurting the child's "self-esteem.
Reward excellence, tolerate mediocrity and eschew failure; at best you'll have excellence, at worst you'll have mediocrity.
There are a lot of SPED students are fine academically; it's the behavior which got them classified. the rules should not be watered down, and besides, they can stay in school until they're 21 so they have plenty of time to pass.
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