Board to vote on who walks

The district debates whether special-needs students who fail exit exam can go to graduation.Special-education students may be able to walk in the graduation ceremony next June even if they fail the California high school exit exam under a proposal that will go before the Newport-Mesa Unified School Board tonight.

At the meeting, Newport-Mesa assessment director Peggy Anatol will present a plan to accommodate the district’s most handicapped students. Under Anatol’s proposal, special-needs students who did not pass the exit exam would be allowed to walk at graduation and receive certificates of achievement -- provided that they met goals in other areas.

In November, the Newport-Mesa district, like others throughout California, debated whether all students should be allowed to join in the ceremony if they failed the exit exam but passed all their classes. Tonight, the board will consider the case of special-needs students, though Anatol said that in the coming months the board may adjust the rules for others as well.

“As we unfold our options, this is just the first step,” she said of the plan for special-education students. “I think these students are the ones who are most in need of some assistance to pass at this time.”

The school board is scheduled to vote on whether to accept Anatol’s proposal.

Under the plan, special-education students who failed the exit exam would not earn high school diplomas but would receive certificates to honor their achievements. Students would be eligible for certificates if they fulfilled their Individualized Educational Plans, known as IEPs, which outline goals for special-needs students.

Over the last year, many in the state have disputed whether special-education students should be required to take the same exit exam as their general-education peers. In October, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed a bill that would have exempted special-education students from taking the high school exit exam.

At present, 212 Newport-Mesa seniors have not passed the exit exam, which is first offered in the 10th grade. Of that group, 62 are special-needs students, with 14 of them severely handicapped.

Sandi Ames, the chairwoman of Newport-Mesa’s community advisory committee for special-education parents, said she didn’t like the exit exam in the first place and thought it especially unfair for handicapped students.

“I understand its intent is to force educators, in a sense, to bring up the reading level and math level of all students, but I’m not sure that’s realistic,” she said. “I think it negatively impacts the ability of children with special needs to participate and be able to enjoy the same opportunities their peers have.”

Trustee Linda Sneen, who works closely with the community advisory committee, voiced a similar opinion, saying she would even favor awarding diplomas to special-needs students who had passed all their classes.

“They’ve had an IEP since they started in our district,” Sneen remarked. “I think it’s hard enough for the kids and the families.”

Newport-Mesa students last took the exit exam in November, and the results will be available next month. The only other testing date between now and graduation is in March, although unsuccessful seniors may return next November to take the exam one more time.

* MICHAEL MILLER covers education and may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or by e-mail at michael.miller@latimes.com.