Board members in Enfield, CT, are depressed about the idea of exit exams:
Members of the Board of Education don't want to base high school graduation requirements on test scores, but they have no choice in the matter. State law mandates that school systems craft graduation standards beginning in 2006 based in part on the results of the Connecticut Academic Performance Test, a test given annually to high school sophomores. In response, the school board Tuesday discussed revisions to the current graduation policy that would make high school graduation contingent on meeting testing requirements...Currently, a student must earn a minimum of 22 credits and maintain at least a C-minus average to graduate. Roger Jones, school board member, expressed dismay about changing the policy.
"It's just not right," Jones said. "You've got a poor kid who works hard, a good C-student, and they're just not good test takers, and it winds up they can't get a diploma."
Does the CAPT measure what Jones' think high-school graduates should know? Perhaps not. But if it does, then any student who doesn't pass the exam shouldn't get a diploma. Otherwise, students will receive CT high school diplomas based on effort, not achievement.
The draft policy, which received a first reading Tuesday, includes several opportunities for students to meet the testing requirements. According to the draft policy, students would receive diplomas if they demonstrate proficiency in math and in either reading or writing by scoring a 3 or higher on the CAPT -- or scoring at least 430 on the math and verbal sections of the SAT.They also could meet the graduation standards by scoring an 18 or higher on the reading and math sections of the ACT, a standardized test similar to the SAT. Students who are unable to achieve the minimum scores on the CAPT or SAT will have the opportunity to take proficiency tests developed by the school system in math and reading.
In other words, the district will bend over backwards to help any kid who struggles with the CAPT. But please note that minimum SAT scores given above identify students who are in the 23rd and 21st percentiles, respectively - and if they can't manage that, they get to take yet another test designed by the school system.
If the district has any faith in tests at all, at some point, they'll have to admit that grade inflation can produce students with C- averages who really don't know enough to earn a high-school diploma. If they're not willing to deny any of those "good C-" students a diploma, then they shouldn't bother with the tests at all.
By the way, we're not talking about large numbers of kids who can't pass the testing gauntlet:
Assistant Superintendent Anthony Torre said the school system has been tracking testing performances for incoming seniors.Posted by kswygert at June 30, 2005 10:36 AMHe said parents of students who have not yet met the requirements have been notified. Torre said only nine students at Fermi High School have yet to achieve a required score on one of the testing options. He did not have figures for Enfield High School.