Posted on 05/25/2006 10:18:47 AM PDT by SmithL
Two weeks ago when a judge struck down California's exit exam, 17-year-old Salvador Rodriguez thought he would be graduating from high school in June with his friends.
But the state Supreme Court's decision Wednesday to reinstate the exit exam has thrown Salvador's diploma in limbo, again.
The Richmond High School senior has taken the exam twice, but doesn't know if he passed his most recent try.
"I'm anxious, nervous. There's a lot on my shoulders," said Salvador, who dreams of attending UC Berkeley. "In a way, it'd be cool to let us graduate, but that wouldn't be the honest answer. I'd rather earn my way there."
About 47,000 students across California have not yet passed the exit exam. It is not known how many of those students had earned enough credits and were on track to graduate next month.
The ruling temporarily invalidates an Alameda County judge's May 12 decision to throw out the exit exam requirement, until an appellate court can review the case.
Whether that court will take action in time for upcoming high school graduations is unknown.
"It's devastating news. Now, again, they're robbing the students of their diplomas," said Raúl Alcaraz, organizer of the Richmond High School branch of Youth Together, a social justice organization.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Here in Ohio, the kids start taking the exam in the 9th grade -- twice a year, so the kids have 8 chances to pass. If they fail parts of it, they can get tutoring in that part to help them pass. It is supposedly a "12th grade" exam, but it covers 9th grade level subjects. My daughter passed the first time she took it. The test is a sham and a shame -- a sad commentary on our educational system.
Thanks for the link. I noticed that too.
Why? The name is hispanic. Is this an illegal whose grasp of the language and perhaps lack of interest in our history, culture, etc. has kept him from passing? Pardon my suspicion, but current illegals' demands have heightened my natural cynacism.
If you can't pass, sue. Keep judge shopping and you will find a bonafide bleeding lib who agrees if you want it, you should have it.
vaudine
I have no sympathy for these students. They've had multiple opportunity to take an exam that I've heard only tests 10th grade English and 8th grade Math skills. If you can't do that, you most definitely should not be getting your diploma.
I thought I heard English learnings and special education students are exempt. Is that only an LA Unified thing?
ROBBING?? Oh boy!
Do falconers only train female falcons, or is the author of the first passage being politically correct in referring to the falcon as female?
You said: He appears to have integrity.
***
I won't disagree. Could he not take the test until he passes and avoid the issue???
Sure. Let the state make up its mind. He can take the test for however long it takes. I believe he should.
Simone Sebastian, the author, ought to learn to write proper English!
But, if Salvador Rodriguez is already a senior, why was his recent attempt only his second try? Students have the opportunity to attempt each part of the test 6-10 times by the end of 12th grade. Was he absent during most of the other test dates?
Salvador, who dreams of attending UC Berkeley
If UC Berkeley accepts people who cannot even pass what effectively is a junior high school exam, then either the college is setting up the students for future failure or the college is ruining its reputation as a top public university.
About 47,000 students across California have not yet passed the exit exam.
I assume the author meant 47,000 seniors, not students; I'm sure the K-8 students across the state who have not yet been administered the test also "have not yet passed the exit exam."
If these 12th grade children cannot even pass 8th grade math or 10th grade English, why are they in 12th grade? They should never have been promoted to high school. They now should be demoted for remedial education at their appropriate grade levels.
Agreed.
However, although the test is billed as testing 8th grade math and 10th grade English, students only need about 1/2 to pass, and there are only 4 multiple choice answers per question (plus short essays).
Therefore, students who have attained much lower education levels can still pass, simply by completing easier questions and making educated guesses on the rest. If you eliminate two wrong answers for each question and randomly guess between the other two answers for each question, after six attempts at the exam you're very likely to have passed without necessarily knowing how to do a single problem correctly.
In California -- my grandaughter passed the English part of the test as a 9th grader. And the math test as a 10th
grader. Maybe as you get up to the 11th and 12 grades they
give the test more than once per year.
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