Oakland votes to grant diplomas despite exit exam requirement

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 5/31/6 | Simone Sebastian

[SmithL]

In defiance of state law, the Oakland school board voted tonight to grant diplomas to seniors who have not passed the state-required exit exam, in a 4-2 vote.

However, because the bankrupt district is under state control and the board has been stripped of decision-making powers, the resolution cannot be enforced unless approved by state-appointed Administrator Randolph Ward.

Ward was chosen to lead the district by State Superintendent Jack O'Connell, who authored the exit exam legislation, in 2003.

Ward left the meeting before the board voted and could not be reached for comment.

"Let's not be frightened by O'Connell. Let's not be frightened of Ward. Let's vote our consciences," said board member Dan Siegel, who proposed the resolution. "It's very unfair to say to students who, for 13 years, have done what we have asked them to do, you can't graduate."

Of the 1,492 Oakland seniors who have satisfied course requirements for graduation, 140 have not passed both the math and English sections of the exit exam.

Siegel and his supporters believe that inadequate funding and a lack of quality teachers puts Oakland students at a disadvantage for passing the exam, which the state requires to get a diploma.

"It doesn't matter how many times we can take the test and how many years we have to prepare when our schools have been messed up since we were in kindergarten," said Leslie Santiago, a 17-year-old junior at MetWest High School in Oakland.

Santiago was one of about 25 students who attended the board meeting to support Siegel's resolution.

In Oakland, seniors who do not pass the exit exam cannot participate in graduation ceremonies, regardless of whether they have satisfied all other graduation requirements.

[SmithL]

...the bankrupt district is under state control and the board has been stripped of decision-making powers, the resolution cannot be enforced unless approved by state-appointed Administrator Randolph Ward.

The Board seems to have imparted all of it competence to its students. Give them all "Certificates of Esteem" and paper hats.

[kinoxi]

aint dun been knowed wat dat means ...

[JRios1968]

"It doesn't matter how many times we can take the test and how many years we have to prepare when our schools have been messed up since we were in kindergarten," said Leslie Santiago, a 17-year-old junior at MetWest High School in Oakland.

I hate to be the one to tell Leslie...at age 17 I was a freshman...in college. And, I did it in Puerto Rico, a place not normally known for the quality of public schools. However, I took the time and spent the effort to actually be a better than average student, and I was able to overcome what today is diagnosed as severe ADHD. Today I am an Air Force officer and a civil engineer. The schools in Oakland might be "messed up," but Leslie, you are a big part of the problem.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Why don't they just cut to the chase and give a diploma to all the 4th graders? Think of the money they'd save!

[LibWhacker]

Hi skoo daploma??? You be trippin', foo! Where my PhD at?

[NinoFan]

I am so sick of liberal idiots on school boards.

[CAWats]

To be fair, these kids have no business being in the 12th grade without knowing 7th grade math. If they had been held back in the 7th grade, graduating would not even be an issue.

[kinoxi]

word

[knarf]

"In defiance of state law, the Oakland school board voted tonight to grant diplomas to seniors who have not passed the state-required exit exam, in a 4-2 vote. However, because the bankrupt district is under state control and the board has been stripped of decision-making powers, the resolution cannot be enforced unless approved by state-appointed Administrator Randolph Ward."

They're dead, Jim.

[goldstategop]

Liberals like to reward failure. After all recognizing success means leaving some behind. Oakland's slogan might well be, "Leave No Losers Behind."

(Denny Crane: "Every one should carry a gun strapped to their waist. We need more - not less guns.")

[FlingWingFlyer]

Isn't Oakland the official home of "Ebonics?"

[kinoxi]

they are trying to prevent success even more, it scares them

[peggybac]

It's very unfair to say to students who, for 13 years, have done what we have asked them to do, you can't graduate."

Have done what they were asked to do? Yeah, right!

"Siegel and his supporters believe that inadequate funding and a lack of quality teachers."

NOW they blame the teachers.

[monkapotamus]

"It's very unfair to say to students who, for 13 years, have done what we have asked them to do, you can't graduate."

That would be what - just show up to class?

[ironmaidenPR2717]

I expect it will soon be illegal (or discriminatory) to expect these same graduates to read and/or legibly fill out an employment application.

[BigTom85]

Fo' shizzle my nizzle! We be goin' to college n' da gubbamentz payin' fo' it, YO!

[Political Junkie Too]

"It's very unfair to say to students who, for 13 years, have done what we have asked them to do, you can't graduate."

Is that an admission of incompetence?

-PJ

[BigTom85]

sounds like it to me!

[DannyTN]

"Is that an admission of incompetence?"

Sounds like it to me too.

And instead of acknowledging the problem and trying to implement a solution to help the kids catch up to where they ought to be. The incompetent board wants to sweep their embarrassing failure under the table by graduating the kids, even though it means turning them out into the world without a decent education.

[AlaskaErik]

So now that those who worked towards their diploma and earned it will have it become meaningless. That'll show them that hard work has its own rewards.