Suit Filed Against High Schools' Exit Exam

Shane Matthews wrote:

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Yes, I completed high school. Yes, there were exit exams in English, Math, Chemistry, and Physics. Yes, I was graduated - with honours standing - and went on to several years of post-secondary education in the sciences. They aren't as hard to pass as you claim. Keep in mind you don't need to ace the test; a passing mark will suffice. Anyone with the intelligence of an amoeba can manage that much, although I admit it's harder for some than others, and in rare cases much harder.

Shane, being a college student I can see by your writings that you are educated. I see that you are in Canada, is that where you received your education? If so, how do you compare Canadian schools to United States schools? I am in Florida and ever since I can remember, anyone that transplants here from the north always say how the northener schools are a lot better than the schools in Florida.

Mom of Spcl-Nds Child wrote:

I used to agree with the exit exam when my sisters and brother were in school. But then I had my son. I knew as he grew that he had learning disabilities. From the time he started school we have had IEP (Individualized Education Program) meetings. Now he is in his first year of High School, his GPA is 3.50. Oh yes, also 2 years ago we were told that he is Epileptic. Which runs in his family, so it will never go away. Now mind you since this school year has started my son has had over 50 seizures. And he still carries a 3.50 GPA. But, and here is the problem. Every time he has a seizure some of his memory is gone. And he has a hard time remembering things. So, my point is. Even though my son is doing fantastic right now, when it is time for his Exit Exam, he will not be able to remember things. No, I do not agree with the exam. If anything I feel that, yes the Special Needs Students should take and exam but not the same as the rest. And as for saying the norm, well all students are normal. Just because some are Special Needs does not mean they are not normal. Thank You

to mom of special needs,My deceased brother at 47 also was an epileptic.Please make sure he receives constant blood labs.(full series)The meds will destroy his colon and liver.Not to speak of his brain.The school system and the students would make comments of him being on street drugs if he had an uncontrollable seizure during school hours.Embarrassment did not even describe what he went through.I pray the Lord give you both peace and strength and knowledge as he walks through life...native in Or.Cnty,FL

sharron wrote:

Why does an IEP allow for modifications if the same modifications are not allowed for the high school exit exam?

you do have rights,you are just not told about them through the school system.research and study the "NO Child Left Behind Act" not to say you get where you want but it will give you knowledge.

Jill wrote:

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How many parents have actually visited a classroom ?

one to many according to the school.They sat parent participation is what they want...But in reality it's not

correction to jill on my spelling "say"

linda wrote:

<quoted text>to mom of special needs,My deceased brother at 47 also was an epileptic.Please make sure he receives constant blood labs.(full series)The meds will destroy his colon and liver.Not to speak of his brain.The school system and the students would make comments of him being on street drugs if he had an uncontrollable seizure during school hours.Embarrassment did not even describe what he went through.I pray the Lord give you both peace and strength and knowledge as he walks through life...native in Or.Cnty,FL

Linda
Thank you so much for this information. I knew that with the seizures his memory would go a little at a time with each one. But I (we) had know idea that the meds would harm his colon or liver. I was afraid of that but the Doctors said that he would be fine, that there would be know problems. I thank you so much for this information. And I want you toknow that I am truely sorry about your Brother. My (our) prayers are with you.

Mom of Spcl-Nds Child wrote:

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Linda
Thank you so much for this information. I knew that with the seizures his memory would go a little at a time with each one. But I (we) had know idea that the meds would harm his colon or liver. I was afraid of that but the Doctors said that he would be fine, that there would be know problems. I thank you so much for this information. And I want you toknow that I am truely sorry about your Brother. My (our) prayers are with you.

To MOM of Spcl NEEDS,My brother started out on Dialatin.Then added meds did not help him. He could receive labs for his med levels but the doctors failed to check his organs and do full labs.Please add this to your sons check-ups.The headaches alone they get after a seizure is very hard on them .I'll keep you both in my prayers........ Native in Or.Cnty,FL

hey just cause u pass da cahsee

i agree with you, Newt. I feel if you cannot retain info. you have learned in a 10-month span in school, why do you deserve a diplpma? My daughter is dyslexic & i have never put her in any Special Ed classes; not because she is better but i have i know her potential. I am jproud to say that she is a Junior in high school & she has been on the honor roll every 6 weeks. she is & has always been mainstreamed & has taken what Texas calls a TAKS test to move on to the next grade. She has never had a problem. I am glad that schools are cracking down on just letting the children go out into society & fail their first semester of college. This would be more devastating, than not passing an exit level exam.

newt wrote:

I don't mean to single you out, but as your writing demonstrates, California has a major problem with educating its youth. Too many kids make it through school with their teachers giving them decent grades, not because they have a grasp of the material but because the teachers don't want to deal with them repeating classes. I've met people with high school diplomas who have the skills of a 6th grader; did you know there are people graduating that can't even read?
Without an exam exam, a high school diploma is totally worthless. It would be unfair to both the students who actually work hard in school, and to those students who need the extra help and don't get it.
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Its not fair i think its really unfair i didnt pass it and i tried to and know i cant even graduate i have no proff i went to school for four years i cant go to college i put my parents down i really fell like if this isnt fair.if you think im wrong or right write back at
badasschick34@yahoo.com
i really wanna know i wount get mad at any ones opinion

Jill wrote:

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How many parents have actually visited a classroom ?

im a student and i didnt pass it.i fell like your talking about your students giving you excuses i fell like no one is actually sitting down and asking a student about the exit exam i care i dont give excuses all i need is a diploma and tehire not even giving that....you should think before you talk

I just got my daughter's grades. She has a 96 in math for the first time in her life, a 93 in English, an 89 in Civics & Economy and an 88 in Earth & Enviromental Science. She is a spec. ed. student who finally has a school that follows her IEP. I left CA in 2005 to move to NC. She may not graduate until she is 20, but at least it will be a REAL diploma. She has had to repeat the C & E class and math 2 times, but is very proud of her improvement and says she finally understands the work. This is how so called exit exams should work. It is used here to exit a grade level class not just for the diploma. If you don't pass, you retake the class - simple. She also is given the same accomodations on the End of Grade exams as she is given throughout the year, unlike the CASHEE. California needs to look around at other successful states, like NC or Michigan, to see how these exams should be properly administered and then they will find that more will pass and less will complain. Social promotion has never worked. I was even told that WCCUSD won't hold a child back a grade more than once in their school career. Now that is a sad and sorry testatment to how CA schools work!!

Hope this helps....

My daughter was in ISP for 3 of her 4 high school years. She has earned each and every credit on her own and has passed each and every course with above average grades. Her ISP teacher even requested she stay on with him because she was one of his best students. She, like so many others, did not pass the math part of the exit exam and now she can't get her diploma that she worked so very hard for. She feels like everything she did was a waste of time - it got her nothing more than a righteous slap in the face. The school even allowed her to walk with the class (none of whom she knew) and she was so proud of her accomplishment - than 6 weeks after the ceremony she still had not received her diploma she called the learning center and was told that she didn't pass the exit exam therefore no diploma. She has taken the math part 3 times over - obviously there is a problem - we have gone so far as to purchase several math study books as well as the exit exam workbook for her. She has studied and studied and studied and still did not pass. She has given up on ever getting her diploma - is devasted over this and has been diagnosed as severly depressed. What can be done to stop this madness from continuing? I can't blame my child for not wanting to go on to college - what for? So she can work hard, pass the classes and be told no degree because of some lame test she didn't pass? What a way for the schools to rob the federal govt.- no student no paychecks - hmmmm!!!