James Haug. "Graduation test trips up 800. " Las Vegas Review - Journal 30 May 2009,US & Midwestern Newspapers, ProQuest. Web. 7 Oct. 2010. |
http://proquest.umi.com/pqdweb?index=10&did=1736983611&SrchMode=1&sid=2&Fmt=3&VInst=PROD&VType=PQD&RQT=309&VName=PQD&TS=1286472735&clientId=16548
A diploma, of course, is the key to getting into college or joining the military. Because of the high stakes involved, teachers this week questioned some disappointing results of a state-required exam needed for graduation and asked state officials to double-check the test itself to make sure it was not given in error. A minimum of 14,000 students are expected to march in cap and gown, but as many as 800 students might only get a "certificate of attendance" when they walk across the graduation stage.Joe Piela, a math teacher at Foothill High School in Henderson, wondered whether the wrong answer sheet was given to students.Only three of his 27 seniors who took the test this month passed.Unfortunately for students, no errors were found with the exam itself, said Henry King, a program administrator for the Nevada Department of Education.The test was quadruple-checked.Sue Daellenbach, director of testing and accountability for the School District, knew that many students just missed passing the test by a point or two.
Students will be given another opportunity to pass the test in July and to be counted as graduating with their class. Adults can also earn GED or an equivalency diploma by passing five subject tests.All students who are credit-sufficient, meaning they have passed their core classes such as English, math and science, can "walk" in the graduation ceremonies even if they haven't passed the exam.There are 16,830 enrolled seniors this year in the county school system.Daellenbach expects a minimum of 85 percent will be able to participate in graduation this year with 800 getting certificates of attendance.
This topic is really interesting to me because I am unsure about how I feel on this issue. I feel that testing in order to graduate will encourage students to be better students and pay better attention, but based on the information given, if only three of that teacher's twenty seven students passed, then something must be wrong. I think that you have found a lot of good information to back up your statement and I'm curious to see where you take your argument! Nice job so far!
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