Mike McDonald
Because I have a daughter in the Class of 2004 -- the first class of
public school students who must pass California's new exit examination in
order to receive their high school diplomas -- I have closely followed
the progress in enacting this new graduation requirement.
In March 1999, state policy makers passed a law to establish this High
School Exit Examination, which is not a college or honors examination.
Its purpose is to test whether students have mastered the academic
skills necessary to succeed. The test is based on California's statewide
academic content standards.
The exam has two sections: English and language arts (reading and
writing) and mathematics. The reading and writing test addresses the
English and language arts content standards through grade 10. The
mathematics test addresses math standards through Algebra 1.
This year, the English and language arts test will be given on March
7. Mathematics will be given on March 13.
All Burbank ninth-graders are required to take the test as a practice
test so that they will have an analysis of their performance on this
critical exam. Those who take the exam will receive copies of the test
questions, their responses and the correct responses if they are
different.
Like many parents, I want to be sure that my children pass this exam,
and that the Burbank Unified School District is doing all that it can to
prepare these students.
As a result of my concern and that of other board members, the Board
of Education has taken an active part in working with district
administrators to create a number of proactive measures to assist
students in getting ready for this exam.
For example, the district's secondary curricula for both high school
mathematics and English and language arts were revised to align with the
California state content standards. New literature textbooks purchased
last year were selected because they supported these new standards.
In mathematics, algebra is now required of all high school freshmen
and is also available at the middle school level. In addition, the board
formally adopted Algebra 1 as a requirement for high school graduation.
The district has also created additional courses in reading and
created special after-school tutoring and summer school programs to help
students who do poorly on the first practice test in March.
Middle and high school students who are at risk of not meeting
standards are being identified, and immediate intervention plans are
developed for them.
