Senate committee hears plan to retest failing students

Jennifer Coleman

Monday, May 17, 1999 | 7:41 a.m.

CARSON CITY - A $350,000 plan to help hundreds of Nevada high school seniors who haven't passed a math proficiency test - and may not graduate next month - was endorsed Monday by a Senate panel.

The Finance Committee said the students, about 10 percent of this year's graduating class, could enroll in an intensive remedial course this summer and test again. They could participate in June graduation ceremonies, but wouldn't get a diploma until they pass.

Finance Chairman Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said he's in favor of the plan because it doesn't lower the minimum test scores needed to pass.

Now, the passing score on the math portion of the test is 61. An Assembly panel considered lowering the score to 57, but decided it would send the wrong message to students who passed the test.

Several parents of students who have failed the test are threatening to sue the state, saying a disproportionate number of failing students are minorities.

Critics also say the test is flawed because students are being evaluated on material they were never required to learn, such as algebra and geometry.

But Raggio said those parents are mistaken and called the test standards artificially low.

"Ninety percent or so passed this test, so the test can't be called invalid," he said, adding that students could miss the questions on beginning algebra and geometry and still pass the test.

Debbie Smith, a member of the Council to Establish Academic Standards, agreed with Raggio. She said the state will probably experience even more problems as it implements higher standards in the next year.

"This is really just the tip of the iceberg," she said. "We're going to encounter rocky times. It's important that we figure out who needs remediation and help those students."

The committee added the proficiency testing plan to an education bill, SB466.

SB466 had originally proposed making the state Board of Education an appointed body, rather than elected. After many school administrators, teachers and parents complained, that was struck from the bill.