Tucson, Arizona
Thursday, 14 August
By Ben Feller
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WASHINGTON - High-school graduation now hinges on exit exams for more than half
of public school students, a number on the rise despite some messy consequences,
a study finds.
The graduation tests have led to more rigorous courses and more help for struggling
students, the Center on Education Policy study says. But they also have meant
unexpected costs, greater failure rates for minorities and maybe more dropouts,
the study says.
Nineteen states withhold diplomas if students don't pass tests that cover English
and math, and in some cases social studies and science. Five other states are
phasing in graduation tests through 2008, increasing the number of students
affected to seven in 10.
"While the political rhetoric and public reaction surrounding these exams
has grown, exit exams themselves appear to be on track and are, for now, here
to stay," said Keith Gayler, associate director of the center, a research
group that advocates for better schools. Diploma-driven tests have been used
for years, but the 2002-03 school year was the one in which many students and
parents learned why the tests are often called "high stakes." Several
states withheld thousands of diplomas, or prepared to do so. In some states,
tests got tougher.
At times, it got messy.
New York erased the results of a new math test for juniors and seniors after
the passing rate fell much lower than the previous year. Local officials got
permission to give diplomas to seniors who failed the exam but passed their
math courses.
California delayed the consequences of its exit exam from 2004 to 2006 after
a study projected that about 20 percent of seniors would be denied diplomas.
In Massachusetts, where diplomas were withheld for the first time, some students
walked out of class and refused to take the test, often with support from parents,
the study says.
Adjustments made to stem the outcry affected only small numbers of students,
the study found. States generally kept their exams and policies intact.
"Sticking with high standards is really important," said Mike Cohen,
president of Achieve, a nonprofit group that helps states in measuring how to
hold students accountable.
"Our research underscores the fact that - controversies notwithstanding
- the expectations in high-school exit exams are quite reasonable," Cohen
said. "They don't even necessarily guarantee you're ready to do college
work."
In many states, 65 percent to 85 percent of students pass on their first try.
But in states that provided a breakdown of data, scores were significantly lower
among blacks, Hispanics, poor students, children with disabilities and those
with limited English ability.