October 2000 
California prepares for high school exit exam By Sheldon J. Reber, Director of School and Community Relations
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H igh school freshmen will soon be faced with a high-stakes state-mandated test in language arts and mathematics that they will need to pass before they can earn a high school diploma in 2004. Senate Bill 2X, a bill sponsored by Governor Gray Davis, established the High School Exit Exam and was signed into law in April 1999. According to Jim Scott, Eureka City Schools' superintendent, "The High School Exit Exam places accountability squarely on the shoulders of the student." California is still in the process of developing its exit exam. Nationally, 22 other states have high school exit exams. Eureka High School, Humboldt Bay High School, and Zoe Barnum High School, along with all California high schools, are giving freshmen an opportunity to voluntarily take the exit exam next year on March 7 (language arts) and March 13 (mathematics). Starting in 2002, all sophomores will be required to take the two-part test. Students will have multiple opportunities to retake the exam if one or both parts are not passed. The test will cover English-language arts standards for the ninth and tenth-grade and all the material in the state's mathematics standards, up to and including algebra. This is the first California-mandated test to be fully aligned with state adopted standards. Bob Embertson, Eureka High School's principal, stated he appreciates California's effort to "align the Exit Exam with the curriculum standards that we are teaching unlike the STAR test where there's some variance between the test content and the curriculum that has been approved for California." Scott points out "The High Exit Exam is in response to a concern voiced by business interests that high schools are not graduating students with appropriate basic skills in terms of the ability to reason, write, and think." Embertson agrees with Scott and adds, "I think the exit exam will do one thing. It will help restore some credibility to California's public schools. Businesses want us to put a stamp of approval on our graduates and this is certainly a step in that direction." To prepare for tests is a life skill according to Bob Munther, assistant superintendent for organizational development. "We're trying to impress upon teachers and students that there should be the teaching of test-taking skills. It's not cheating to help kids learn how to take tests and be effective on tests," stated Munther. In response to the exit exam, the district will begin to view its curriculum from the top down. "Curriculum will need to be geared toward passing the test. Certainly in language arts and in the math curriculum, students are going to have to be prepared for the standards and criteria that will be assessed in the High School Exit Exam. It will not just begin at the high school, it's going to have implications down into the lower elementary grades. The big example is that every student will have to be proficient at the algebra one level to be able to pass this test," said Scott. Embertson has been talking with other administrators from around the state about the test. "I've talked to one person who has seen a draft of the test who said it's very difficult. Will it be difficult for kids? I don't know. It will have a tremendous impact on curriculum because I could see where we develop classes to help remediate deficiencies so kids can pass the Exit Exam. We may have a need to go back to the old algebra A and algebra B format so that kids, over a two-year span, can get a full year of algebra which would increase their chances of passing the exam." All students must pass the new high-stakes test including English language learners and special education students. The test's impact on local students will certainly be felt. "I'm worried that there may be more dropouts because students will make a judgement on whether they will ever be able to pass it," stated Munther. 
"It could mean more students testing out of high school by taking the GED and going to College of the Redwoods. So the GED standards may have to be raised as well," continued Munther.Even though Eureka City Schools has many alternative programs to keep kids in schools, superintendent Scott also foresees the High School Exit Exam making a major impact on communities in the future. "When students lose a sense or a motivation that they can get a diploma, I believe the dropout rate will increase dramatically. If that occurs, it will have a major impact on the community and its economic health. At that point, the issue will be generalized beyond just schools and will be a major issue for society," said Scott. Embertson, who has spent years in high school education, agreed. "We're going down a new trail. I think the High School Exit Exam is the biggest issue I've seen in my career because kids, families, schools, teachers, administrators, counselors*we're all going to be affected by this." On the current climate for accountability in public schools, Scott added, "We have no problem with students being accountable. We embrace the fact that we should graduate students with a high caliber of skills in reading, writing, and thinking. There's no question of that. Whether this test helps us accomplish this remains to be seen."
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