Proficiency test still a graduation hurdle

Monday, May 15, 2006 | 7:18 a.m.

Sebastian Vales is five correct answers away from his high school diploma.

That's how close he came to passing in March when he took Nevada's required math proficiency test for the fourth time. He missed the passing score by just 10 points.

Beginning Monday, Vales and 1,906 other Clark County high school seniors will have a final opportunity to pass the test in time to receive a diploma at next month's commencement ceremonies. Students who complete the required 22.5 course credits but do not pass the math, reading and writing sections of the test are handed a certificate of attendance.

Does Vales have any pre-test rituals or traditions designed to bring luck?

"I pray," he said.

Cowan Sunset High School Principal Anita Williams, overhearing his response, fought back tears.

"You cannot imagine how hard these kids have worked," she said. "I hate the thought that they might walk out feeling defeated."

The district's sunset programs offer late afternoon and evening classes to students making up missing credits from their regular high schools, as well as students whose work or whose child care responsibilities make the alternative schedule a better fit.

Williams said she supports the concept of mandatory exit exams in addition to setting minimum course requirements. But the math proficiency test has become an albatross.

"I took the practice test last year and I had a hard time," she said.

The math proficiency test's questions are about 20 percent algebra, which became a required course in Clark County two years ago. Another 30 percent of the test involves geometry, which is still an optional course.

Students may attempt the test again in July and trade the certificate for a diploma from their high school. But that scenario poses little comfort to Cegan Jennings, also a senior at Cowan Sunset High School.

"This is my graduation year, I don't want a certificate - I want a diploma," said Jennings, who will be making her third attempt at the math proficiency test. "My dad would be very disappointed."

She, who transferred two years ago to Cowan Sunset from Basic High School, credits the program with keeping her motivated and on track to attend community college in the fall.

"The environment's better," said Jennings, who typically makes the honor roll. "The students are more into learning and graduating than the drama."

The Clark County pass rate on the proficiency exam has steadily increased, as has the required minimum score in mathematics. Lawmakers lowered the passing score to 290 from 304 three years ago when it appeared a quarter of Clark County's seniors would not receive diplomas.

The passing score has been raised by a few points each year and will be restored to 304 next year.

A California judge ruled Friday that the Golden State's high school exit exam was unfair to poor and minority students who were more likely to attend schools with fewer resources, larger classes and less experienced teachers.

This was to be the first year that the exit exam would be a requirement for graduation in California. Prior to the judge's ruling, 45,000 seniors - nearly 11 percent of the class of 2006 - had yet to pass the exam.

Keith Rheault, Nevada's superintendent of public instruction, said he was following the California case and would discuss the judge's ruling with his department's legal office.

The state keeps statistics on proficiency test results by ethnicity and whether students receive special education services, Rheault said.

"We haven't done it by socio-economic status and that's probably something that needs to be looked at," he said.

Arguments made by California exit exam opponents may not apply in Nevada, Rheault said.

"In general students who need help in Nevada get help, only because of the large amount of remediation money we've put toward those efforts. I want to see what programs and services California offers and how it compares to what we do here."