L.A. School Board Fumbles the Exit Exam
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Re “L.A. School Board Votes to Oppose State Exit Exam,” April 9: Not until the eleventh hour does the Los Angeles Unified School District board decide to devote significant attention to the California high school exit exam.
This HSEE was developed in 2000, as mandated by a state law passed in 1999. The exam has been revised, reviewed and field-tested in several California school districts since 2000. The purpose of this 1999 statute is to help improve student achievement in high school and to ensure that graduates meet identified eighth-, ninth- and 10th-grade state content standards in reading, writing and mathematics.
The LAUSD board has had three years to consider the HSEE and all of its consequences. But rather than admit its heedlessness, the board opts to oppose the exam. California high school seniors are expected to pass both language arts and math portions of the exam in 2004 in order to receive a high school diploma. I am extremely interested in the next move the board will make.
Might I suggest that, rather than engaging in naming and blaming, we all concentrate on increased achievement for students as a way of safeguarding a successful future for all of them?
Joyce C. Sheffie
Member, HSEE Community
Review Panel, Los Angeles
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