Fewer California students pass high school exit exam
This year's number was the lowest since passage became mandatory for students to get a diploma. Officials cite inclusion of special education students this year as a reason.
One in 10 high school seniors in the class of 2008 failed to pass California's exit exam by graduation, the lowest rate of passage since the test became mandatory to earn a diploma three years ago, according to data released Tuesday by the state Department of Education.
The estimated passage rate dipped, state officials said, because for the first time special education students were required to take the exam to receive diplomas, and their test results were included in the tally. Nearly half of special education students -- those with learning, physical or mental disabilities such as autism or dyslexia -- did not pass the exam.
"It's an unmitigated disaster for special education kids," said Sid Wolinsky, director of litigation for Berkeley-based Disability Rights Advocates, which unsuccessfully fought for alternative assessments for special needs teenagers, such as oral exams or work portfolios.
State Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell defended the mandate.
"Far from holding students back," he said, "the exit exam requirement ensures all students who earn diplomas will have the basic skills essential to their success in the workforce."
Special education students' graduation rate dipped nearly 3 percentage points for the class of 2008 because of the requirement. O'Connell noted that special education students can continue in the state's public high schools until they are 22; and even after students are done with their tra- ditional high school years, they can continue taking the exam until they pass.
But for prior classes, statistics show that most mainstream students who leave school without passing the exam do not keep taking it, and if they do, their success is mixed. In the class of 2006, nearly 39,000 did not pass the exam in time for graduation, and in the two years that have since elapsed, fewer than 4,800 have passed.
Excluding special education students, the class of 2008 showed a small uptick in those who passed, to 93.6% by last May.
As a state senator, O'Connell wrote the legislation that created the exit exam, which was signed into law in 1999.
Beginning in their sophomore year, students have several chances to take the two-part test. A score of at least 55% on the math portion, which is geared to an eighth-grade level, and 60% on the English portion, which is ninth- or 10th-grade level, is required.
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