This week, Live Oak High Class of 2006 had their first shot at
passing the California High School Exit Exam, which they will have
to pass in order to graduate.
This week, Live Oak High Class of 2006 had their first shot at passing the California High School Exit Exam, which they will have to pass in order to graduate.
“I handed out 650 (tests) at 8:05 this morning,” Live Oak Assistant Principal Aida Fraser-Hammer said Tuesday. “They’ll take the tests today and tomorrow.”
The sophomores have had the opportunity to prepare for the exam for several weeks, Fraser-Hammer said.
“The English teachers and math teachers were going over test topics, and there were after school and before school tutorials offered last week and the week before,” she said. “We did do a massive sweep notifying all sophomore parents that tutoring was available, in case they need to nudge their kids to seek some support.”
The Extreme Learning Center also offered tutoring for students, Fraser-Hammer said.
“They had a list from us of 10th graders, and they prepared fliers,” she said. “We gave out fliers last time we had a newsletter go home. They offered free tutoring for the students.”
The state exam came about as a result of a movement by the state Legislature in 1999. The reason for developing the exam, according to Senate bill 2, section 1(b), was to “… significantly improve pupil achievement in high school and to ensure that pupils who graduate from high school can demonstrate grade level competency in reading, writing, and mathematics …”
The exam, which covers math and English/language arts, can be re-taken if students do not pass on the first try. If they fail only one section, they only have to re-take that section.
The exam requires students to have mastered California standards for 10th grade students before they can graduate from high school.
Under the 1999 law, the class of 2004 was supposed to be the first that would have to pass the California High School Exit Exam to graduate. Students have eight chances to take the test during their high school years.
The state Board of Education voted in July to postpone by two years the requirement that high school students pass the exam in order to get a diploma, delaying the mandate until 2006. That vote followed a report that found about 20 percent of the class of 2004 would fail the test’s math portion and not graduate.
State Superintendent Jack O’Connell canceled 2003 tests, which had been scheduled for July, September and November.
In the Morgan Hill School District, approximately 155 10th graders took the English/language arts part of the exam in 2002. Forty-one percent passed, compared with 62 percent county-wide and 54 percent statewide. Combining the 2001 and 2002 scores, approximately 88 percent of Morgan Hill tenth graders passed the English/language arts portion.
In the math section of the exam, approximately 228 10th graders combined took the test win 2002. Of those, 29 percent passed, compared with 43 percent countywide and 32 percent statewide. Combining the 2001-2002 scores, 69 percent of the Class of 2004 in the district passed the math portion.
The 2002 scores include eight Central High students and one Community Adult School student.
Fraser-Hammer said she had a positive outlook on the results of this week’s testing.
“With all the support our students received, all the work that the staff has done over the past few years to align our curriculum and provide additional help for those who need it, we should be in good shape,” she said. “I walked around a lot today and saw many kids that finished before the scheduled time. And the kids didn’t have frustrated looks on their faces, so I hope that’s a good sign.”
