Officials proud of exit exam success

Deirdre Newman

Newport-Mesa Unified School District officials are crediting the

implementation of district standards from four years ago for the high

rate of success being seen on the high school exit exams.

The district’s standards are closely aligned with the state

standards, which the exit exam is based on. The grade-specific

standards spell out what students should know.

As of March, 2002, 86% of district students have passed the

English/language arts portion of the exit exam and 71% have passed

the math section. This is higher than the overall county average for

both portions.

“We’re pleased with the progress so far, but we will also look at

our deficiencies” Supt. Robert Barbot said. “[The pass rate] has

exceeded where we thought we would be by this point.”

While the class of 2004 is only the first to have to clear the

exit exam hurdle to graduate, the future of the test is already

uncertain.

Because only 48% of students statewide who took the exam between

March 2001 and May 2002 -- it was also offered in July -- have passed

both sections, some members of the state Board of Education have

qualms about achieving a reasonable pass rate, even though current

juniors have seven more chances to take the test.

“The time is coming close, so we are just concerned that children

pass it and they get everything they need in their instruction to do

that,” said Marion Joseph, a board member.

To that end, the district is considering options to help the

remaining students who still have not passed with the use of

interventions, including after-school programs, tutorials and

integration of an exit-exam prep course into the curriculum. Of the

500 sophomores who took the exam in March, only 35% passed the math

portion and 42% passed English.

Barbot, however, refuses to pull the exit exam if the state

withdraws its requirement for the class of 2004, since a majority of

district students have shown they have what it takes to graduate.

“I don’t envision taking a step back for something that our

students have accomplished,” Barbot said. “The reality is, if these

students still need these skills to get out of high school and be

effective -- which is what the high school exit exam is saying --

just because the state changes its requirement, doesn’t mean

[students] don’t need it.”

The district would still help students attain the knowledge they

needed to pass and would consider what to do with the students who

don’t pass when the time comes, Barbot added.

The state Board of Education has until next August to decide

whether to make the exam count for the class of 2004.

The decision will be based on an independent evaluation that

examines if students across the state have had access to the material

covered on the exam and how they are doing, said Ann Bancroft of the

Office of the Secretary for Education.

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.