High school entry exam proposed

Friday, June 26, 1998 | 9:47 a.m.

The Legislative Committee on Education says eighth-graders, beginning in the 2001-02 school year, should pass the proficiency exams.

Costs of such a measure, and what should be done with students too old for middle school but unqualified for high school, haven't been determined.

Proficiency would be determined by a statewide achievement test and based on academic standards in math, English and science being developed for school year 1999-2000. The standards are part of the Legislature's 1997 Education Reform Act supported by Gov. Bob Miller.

The proficiency test for eighth-graders is one of three dozen recommendations made Wednesday by the panel to fine-tune and expand the reform effort begun last year.

The panel's recommendations will be turned into proposed legislation, which will have to win the approval of the 1999 Legislature and governor to take effect.

Bill Hanlon, state Board of Education member, said finding a place for the eighth-graders who fail the test is important, noting it wouldn't be a good idea to keep them in middle schools. He suggested a preparatory school where students could get remedial classes.

Nevada students already have to take a new high school proficiency exam before qualifying to earn their diplomas. One in five 11th-graders taking the tougher test this spring failed the reading portion while one in three failed the math part. Students have more than one chance to pass the exam.

Another panel recommendation is to provide remedial funds to more schools whose students don't perform well on standardized tests.

The 1997 Legislature allocated $3 million to spend on schools deemed inadequate based on achievement test scores. The money is intended to help the schools and their students move into the adequately achieving range.