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Little Time To Pass State's Exit Exam: Monterey County's High School Students

Posted on: Sunday, 5 February 2006, 12:00 CST

By Clarissa Aljentera, The Monterey County Herald, Calif.

Feb. 5--begin taking all-important test Tuesday Life seems to be good for Elias Rodriguez, a senior at Alisal High School.

His hazel eyes light up when he thinks about playing golf, a sport he took up a couple of years ago. He's waiting to hear from UC-Santa Barbara and UC-Santa Cruz to see if he got accepted for the fall.

He passed the high school exit exam when he was a sophomore, the first time he took it, though his first language is not English.

"It was challenging, but overall I felt comfortable with it," the 17-year-old said.

Hundreds of seniors throughout Monterey County will begin taking the exit exam Tuesday, one of the last chances to take the rigorous two-day test that covers English, language arts and mathematics, before graduation.

This is the first year that seniors must pass the test to graduate. State Superintendent Jack O'Connell has said there are no practical alternatives to the test.

Not surprisingly, most administrators in the county have found that those who have difficulty passing the exam are English learners and special-needs students.

"Definitely, it's our immigrant students who struggle the most," said Deneen Newman, director of curriculum and instruction at the Soledad Unified School District. "They've just come speaking a foreign language and they're trying to learn English, especially those who come in the senior year. Our special ed students struggle as well."

In the Soledad Unified School District, 54 of 213 -- about 25 percent -- have yet to pass the test.

Statewide, about 15 percent of seniors have yet to pass, compared to 18 percent in Monterey County.

Students who don't pass won't get their high school diploma, and in most cases, won't be allowed to walk with their peers at graduation.

"We've always had that position that you have to meet all requirements before graduation," said Roger Anton, Salinas Union High School superintendent. "If you miss two units, you can't walk."

But in districts such as Salinas, students who are missing units can make them up in summer school and walk at a graduation ceremony at the end of summer school. Students who don't pass the exam during the school year will have other chances to take it in the summer and early in the fall.

But all of the local districts are going to great lengths to bolster the students' chances to pass. At Gonzales High School, students take extra classes during the day and have after-school lessons, said Principal Liz Modena. At Soledad Union High School District, those who don't pass the exam this month will have the opportunity to design an individual study plan with teachers and parents.

In North Monterey County High School, seniors who haven't passed take a nine-week class in English or math. They attend a "brush-up day" before the test to go over their skills.

"The exit exam has been a huge focus for us this year," said Principal Steve Hirt. "Everyone is doing the best they can to help the students out and get them over the new hurdle. It is an intense time for everybody."

The test was not so hard for Bianca Padilla, an 18-year-old senior at Alisal High School who passed the exam on her first try. Padilla, a member of a program designed to improve students' grades and their chances to go to college, said the test was just a review of subjects she already studied.

And though Jason Herrier passed the test on his first try, he thinks it's not fair for students with special needs.

"It's not fair to those who have a learning disability or are not good at taking tests," Herrier said.

State Superintendent O'Connell isn't offering alternatives to the test, but an exception was made for special education students who are graduating this year.

A bill signed Jan. 31 by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger gives a reprieve to seniors who have an individual education plan, receive supplemental instruction to help pass the exam, and have taken the test twice since their sophomore year and at least once as a senior.

The one-year "pass" authorized by Senate Bill 517 is part of a negotiated legal settlement approved by the Legislature and signed by the governor in less than two weeks. Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill last year that would have delayed the requirement for passing the test for two years.

The new law settles a class-action lawsuit brought on behalf of disabled students who claimed they weren't being taught the material they needed to pass the exam.

The delay will buy time to create "fair solutions" for all students with disabilities while maintaining high standards with an exit exam, said state education secretary Alan Bersin.

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School districts with high schools -- The first number is the number of seniors in the district. The second number represents those who have not passed. -- Carmel Unified School District: 187; 7 -- Gonzales Unified School District: 155; 37 -- King City Joint Union High School District: 370; 107 -- Monterey Peninsula Unified School District: 644; 75 -- North Monterey County Unified School District: 376; 37 -- Pacific Grove Unified School District: 165; 5 -- Salinas Union High School District: 2,136; 507 -- Soledad Unified School District: 213; 54 -- Statewide: About 15 percent of seniors have yet to pass, compared to 18 percent in Monterey County. School districts with high schools No. of seniors in the district No. of seniors who haven't passed Carmel Unified School District 187 7 Gonzales Unified School District 155 37 King City Joint Union High School District 370 107 Monterey Peninsula Unified School District 644 75 North Monterey County Unified School District 376 37 Pacific Grove Unified School District 165 5 Salinas Union High School District 2,136 507 Soledad Unified School District 213 54 Statewide, about 15 percent of seniors have yet to pass, compared to 18 percent in Monterey County.

The San Jose Mercury News contributed to this article.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Monterey County Herald, Calif.

Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.

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Source: The Monterey County Herald (Monterey, Calif.)

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