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| Special-ed students cope with new exit exam rules |
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| Written by Jonathan Partridge / Patterson Irrigator / | |
| Friday, 18 April 2008 | |
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Last year, special-education students did not have to pass the California High School Exit Examination to receive a high school diploma. This year, the state has changed the rules, and Patterson Unified School District is doing what it can to prepare through extra classes and a new waiver program. District officials discussed some of those changes and the success of high school intervention programs during the April 7 board of trustees meeting at Northmead Elementary School. “We’re working really diligently to make as many students eligible as possible,” said David Hodge, PUSD director of special education. Hodge explained via phone that the state requires parents of special-education students to request a waiver from the vice principal if their children wish to take the high school exit exam with certain “modifications,” such as using a calculator or listening to test questions on a compact disc rather than reading them. Most parents are unaware of that law, he said, noting that state regulations for special education are constantly changing. As a result, the school district has decided to start a waiver program of its own to reach out to parents, and it’s working to prepare students to take the test with modifications. “We set something up which would be much more consumer-friendly,” Hodge said. Last year, 27 special-education students were exempted from passing the exit exam. This year, 25 students may need a waiver, Hodge said. As of March, 15 special-education students had yet to pass the exam with or without modifications, he said. Modifications are determined at an Individualized Education Program meeting, which includes input from parents, teachers and the student, among others. In addition to such aids, special-education students can receive some accommodations without a waiver, such as extra time or the ability to take the test in a preferred environment. Those who meet all high school graduation requirements except for passing the exit exam can receive a certificate of completion, with the opportunity to take the exit exam again after graduation to receive a full diploma. Hodge said he has talked to several employers in the area, and many of them said they understand the challenges special-education students face and would be OK with prospective employees having a certificate of completion. But the U.S. Armed Forces, among other entities, require a diploma from enlistees. Students are given chances to take the exit exam starting in their sophomore year. Those who do not pass by a certain point are placed in intervention classes before school to help them improve. Administrators talked at length at the April 7 board meeting about those early-morning courses, which they said have been largely successful. Patterson High Vice Principal Tonya Bibbins noted that the school challenged boys in intervention programs to outdo the girls on the exit exams, noting that the girls have done better in the past. As a result, she said with a smile, a higher percentage of boys passed this year. “The kids respond to interactions with adults,” Bibbins said. Most students have shown improvement on the exit exams from last year to this year, and special-education students in intervention programs have shown progress at all grade levels. The number of seniors in special education who passed the math part of the exam jumped from zero last year to 60 percent this year. Those who passed English/language arts section increased from 12 percent to 29 percent. Even with extra help, some special-education students may have to be satisfied with a certificate of completion, Hodge said. “To be honest with you, we have some kids that are pretty handicapped,” Hodge said. Tiffany Chesley, department chair of Patterson High School’s special-education department, also said some of the higher-functioning students may do well in classes but become anxious when taking tests. Still, she said, the special-education students she has taught have a strong work ethic, often working 10 times harder than those in general education, and she hopes they continue to work toward graduation despite the challenges. “Overall, I’m very proud of them,” Chesley said. “They stuck it out throughout the year. I hope they continue to stick it out and not give up until they get their diploma." To reach Jonathan Partridge at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it English-learners take their turn Students in intervention classes who are not yet proficient in English showed overall improvement from last year to this year on the California High School Exit Examination, though pass rates dropped slightly for some grade levels. While 73 percent of high school senior English-learners passed the math portion of the exam this year compared to none last year, the pass rate for the English section of the test dropped from 20 percent to 14 percent. Unlike special-education students, English-learners have not been exempted from passing the exit exam in the past and are not eligible to participate in the waiver program, according to state regulations.
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