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.