Newport-Mesa school district sets good example
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District serves as a good example
that the California exit exams are passable. State officials ought to
take notice.
About 86% of the district’s students in the Class of 2004 -- the
first for which the exams are a graduation requirement -- have passed
the English/language arts portion, while about 71% have succeeded on
the math part. And those students who need to pass it still have
seven more opportunities.
Statewide, only 48% have passed both sections so far. As a result,
state education officials are considering yanking the test as a
requirement for graduating in 2004 and beyond.
But Newport-Mesa Unified Supt. Robert Barbot says he’ll continue
to use the test even if the state drops it, saying “I don’t envision
taking a step back for something that our students have
accomplished.”
Bravo to Barbot.
The state has created this test and it needs to stand by it. After
all, schools statewide now focus on preparing -- some better than
others -- their students for it. After all of that hard work, why
back away from the benchmark? If one continues to lower the hurdles,
eventually every hurdler will leap them. But it will not mean
anything.
If Newport-Mesa sophomores can pass the test, the district’s
teachers have done their jobs. Those who still have to pass it still
have seven more attempts to go. Certainly, the teachers and district
will continue doing their jobs in making sure those remaining
students succeed.
Why shouldn’t the state ask the rest of its school districts and
teachers to do the same? It shouldn’t be too much to ask that
graduating students know how to perform junior high school math and
ninth- and 10th-grade English.
The state should support its test, encourage schools to do their
jobs and be patient -- there are seven more opportunities for these
students.
Barbot, his staff and teachers throughout the district deserve
praise for reaching, and wanting to maintain, high standards for
their students.
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