The O.C. Register recently addressed the issue of high school students who complete the required courses to graduate, but end up receiving a certificate of completion because they can’t pass the state high school exit exam, which “measures aptitude in 10th-grade English and eighth-grade algebra.”
It was interesting to note the differences in the way that the Santa Ana Unified School District handles this compared to how the Newport-Mesa Unified School District deals with it.
According to the Register, unnamed “SAUSD officials” decided last month to allow students to walk in their graduation ceremonies even if they failed the test.
In Newport Mesa, such students were not allowed to walk. And they were not given certificates of completion.
“The district provided before- and after-school test prep classes, as well as an exit exam “boot camp” in the summer and on weekends. The district had one of the lowest number of students in the county, 12, who met all graduation requirements but failed the exit exam.”
Only 12 failed the exit exam!?! In SAUSD that number came to 117!
Which approach do you think is more effective? (Hint – this one is a no-brainer).
The SAUSD administration continues to allow students to fade away. This bodes ill for our community. One more reason to rid our board of its current leadership, particularly Chairman Rob Richardson!
Every college that gets applicants from Santa Ana has got to be rolling their eyes in wonder if the student really has what it takes to be at college.
It would be best if the officials making these decisions were not left “unnamed”. Since this is a high school issue, it has to involved Machado and Bratcher.
I spoke to a Century High graduate recently who said she was one of the top 10 students in her high school based on GPA and took AP courses but had to take bonehead English at Santa Ana College! She was so angry at the district! She is doing ok now with a decent job but said some of her friends are not doing as well thinking they had a decent education but now unable to get a job. She asked me, “Why didn’t they just tell us we were not ready to graduate and hold us back until we were ready” instead of sending us off to be mocked by future class results! I have to agree with her.
SAUSD HIGH SCHOOLS, DO INDEED HAVE AFER SCHOOL TUTORS. ANY TEACHER CAN LEAD A STUDENT, TO AN AFTER SCHOOL TUTOR, BUT YOU CAN’T MAKE THEM GO.
While there is much I can find fault with in SAUSD, the issue of CASHEE is not one of them. From the 10th grade on, students begin taking the exam. If they do not pass, they are able and encouraged (make that pressured) throughout the rest of their high school years to attend before and after school tutorials, weekends and/or again in summer. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink.
What I do find fault with is that these students are allowed to participate in the promotion ceremony. It does nothing but give a false sense of accomplishment to everyone. The district does this to keep the students/parents quiet.
In regards to the CHS graduate #2 refers to – all students must pass not only a writing proficiency but the CASHEE. If students are able to successfully complete all required courses with a passing GPA and have passed all their proficiencies and CASHEE, then there is no reason to retain.
Some students are a little weaker in some content areas and need refresher courses. For me it’s math and I don’t blame the schools. I just seem to have a natural weakness in that area.
There are two ways how to learn: The hard way and easy way.
If you want the easy way you learn in English.