Graduation Tests?

[fhtpdw20]

Ohio has them too. Teachers basically have to teach to the test. We no longer have home ec or shop classes. Music/choir in high school have to be taken when you would have a lunch break scheduled. If it is not on the test, it is not taught. They start giving the graduation test twice a year beginning in 10th grade. Here's the real kicker; once you pass the test, every test week (math one day, english the next, etc...) scheduled in October and March the rest of the student body is excused from class during the three hours a day the test is being given so as not to disturb the test takers. Buses have to do double runs at regular time, then at 10am to pick up kids not taking test. High school lets out at 2:30. Talk about a waste of resources.

 

[NotUrsula]

"School Leaving exams" have been used in Europe for at least a century; my parents took them in Ireland in the late 1920's, back when most people left school at age 14 there. They still are a very big deal; every kid in the country takes the same basic test on the same days, and every kid in the country who has college ambitions sweats the results, because your score determines whether or not you will get into college immediately, and which colleges might take you. You can take extra sections to qualify for additional college opportunities. Wikipedia's entry on the Irish Leaving Cert is pretty good: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leaving_Certificate

The UK uses a similar but more complicated program now called the GCSE -- I don't know as much about it because my UK cousins are older and took the previous set of exams; the old O-level and A-level.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Certificate_of_Secondary_Education

I personally would LOVE to see the US adopt a standard core curriculum and a national exam program of some sort. You wouldn't have to teach to the test so much if every kid in the country took the same one.

If you need a basic exit exam, how about starting with the GED? That is what it really is, after all. If you can't pass it, you shouldn't get a diploma.

 

[clh2]

I think this type of test is just wrong. I can't help but think this is an offshoot of the Leave no Child Behind.

I can see it now...there are ACT and SAT prep classes. The "get your diploma test" prep classes will be coming next.

Then...once again...the "have's" will have the test-planning assistance, and the "have-not's" will be struggling to take the test.

The school's need to be clear - what is the purpose of the test? Minimum abilities? Or - is it a college-prep type of test - but essentially becoming a type of ACT or SAT test.

I think Wisconsin is moving in this direction - and I think that my DD, who is a Hs sophomore - will "EKE" out under the current system, without needing to take this type of test. I need her to concentrate when she is a junior on her ACT and SAT's, and then college admissions and scholarship apps when she is a senior.

This type of test is just WRONG.

(FWIW - my DD is a great student, and would do well on this type of test.) I would prefer that the teachers just be allowed to teach, and not have to worry about teaching to a test.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I think this type of test is just wrong. I can't help but think this is an offshoot of the Leave no Child Behind.

I can see it now...there are ACT and SAT prep classes. The "get your diploma test" prep classes will be coming next.

Then...once again...the "have's" will have the test-planning assistance, and the "have-not's" will be struggling to take the test.

The school's need to be clear - what is the purpose of the test? Minimum abilities? Or - is it a college-prep type of test - but essentially becoming a type of ACT or SAT test.

I think Wisconsin is moving in this direction - and I think that my DD, who is a Hs sophomore - will "EKE" out under the current system, without needing to take this type of test. I need her to concentrate when she is a junior on her ACT and SAT's, and then college admissions and scholarship apps when she is a senior.

This type of test is just WRONG.

(FWIW - my DD is a great student, and would do well on this type of test.) I would prefer that the teachers just be allowed to teach, and not have to worry about teaching to a test.

You are too late. TX already has those within the school.

When we were there, my dd did not pass the math in her Soph. yr (shy by a few points) and of course they encouraged her to go to the prep classes and I even have a study guide for the math section here. Texas is called TAKS tests.

She passed her JR. yr and then we moved her SR yr back to MO so it did not matter then.

 

[Wonderlandmom]

Florida has FCAT which you have to pass 10th grade to graduate. You get chances each year after if you fail it, or can sub a certain score on the ACT or SAT I think.

Florida has talks about going to End of Course exams for graduation. It has cleared the first house panel.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/ne...-end-of-course-failure-at-least-at-first.html

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100311/ARTICLE/3111103?Title=Panel-OKs-school-reform

 

[tommya60]

My biggest problem with the test is that all students must pass to receive a high school diploma. There is no accomodation for disabled students. There is a girl in my D's class that works so hard, but due to her bio mom being a drug addicit she has huge challenges. That child deserves to walk the stage. As I understand it, the school district currently allows the students to walk, they receive a certificate of completion rather than a diploma. My D (sophmore honors) is tutoring a Jr for the test, she says the math is pretty easy, but the girl she is tutoring lacks understanding of some basic concepts.

 

[punkin]

There are HS Assessment tests in MD which are now required for graduation. DD took them (starting after 8th grade Algebra) and never had a problem. I literally know not one child (and DD has a lot of friends) who has ever failed one of these.

Back in my day (ooh I am old) we had the Regents exams (NY) and some of them were really tough. Of course they were optional for many students.

 

[LisaR]

In our system it is:
4 years of *each* core subject (social science, English, Science, Math) plus other requirements:
+ 2 years of PE
+ 1 year of personal finance (new for incoming freshman)
+ 3 years of one language or 2 years of 2
+ a fine arts "elective" component (that's required)

It certainly is A Different World.
agnes!

Your location says Old Town. Are you in FL? I haven't seen anything in FL about 3 years of foreign language or the new requirement for personal finance. I know they changed the requirements for incoming freshman this year to include 4 years of the core subjects but I hadn't heard of any other changes. How can they require 4 years of math PLUS a year of personal finance? I am all in favor of a personal finance class but not in addition to four years of advanced math.

 

[Familyof4lovesDW]

We have the OGT Ohio Graduation Test now. When I was in school it was the Ohio 9th grade Proficency Test. We did not have actual class for weeks. All we did was study for that stupid test. What may seem like basic info to some is not to others. The push for testing is awful and I think it puts to much pressure on the kids. How would you feel if all of your friends passed and you did not? I do know if you are on an IEP you do not have to pass standardized test, but I do not know if their dipolma is different. When I was in school it was not. Unfourtunalty I think the testing is going to get worse before/if it evergets better.

 

[pigletz]

We have the OGT Ohio Graduation Test now. When I was in school it was the Ohio 9th grade Proficency Test. We did not have actual class for weeks. All we did was study for that stupid test. What may seem like basic info to some is not to others. The push for testing is awful and I think it puts to much pressure on the kids. How would you feel if all of your friends passed and you did not? I do know if you are on an IEP you do not have to pass standardized test, but I do not know if their dipolma is different. When I was in school it was not. Unfourtunalty I think the testing is going to get worse before/if it evergets better.

Students with an IEP still have to pass the OGT. A certain number of students can be tested using alternative assessments, but I believe that number is only 2% of the total number of special ed students in the state.

I could go on and on about how much I hate the OGT and the time wasted preparing the students for a test instead of actually teaching. I am so looking forward to next week being over so that I don't have to hear those three letters again for at least a few weeks (we start preparing for next years test prep before this year is even over).

 

[Katie's Butterflies]

Actually, they are new to California. I believe this will be the 4th year they have been given.

They've had these tests in my area since about 2000 or 2001. A friend of mine (who was not exactly the best student ) took it in 2002. She passed it easily, stating the stuff covered was from middle and elementary school. Some of my other friends, and some kids I tutored said the same type of thing. There are very few students who do not pass it on at least one of the attempts.

I agree with several other posters, the tests in CA are a joke.

 

[Took]

I kind of like the idea of a standardized exit exam.

I'm a bit confused at the posters who indicate that students who "work hard" "deserve" a high school diploma. Nothing else in life will give them rewards because they tried. Why should school?