A California Republican

California has problems in its education system. Everyone recognizes that. There was recently a private study done that said the schools need more money and reforms, and that more money without reforms is not going to work.

But yet, there is this ad playing on the radio by the President of the California Teachers Association (CTA) which states that schools need more funding according to the study. There is nothing in the ad about reform, only more money.

But one reform the California Legislature is thinking of making is to change the graduation requirements. Currently students must pass the high school exit exam – a basic skills test.
California high school seniors – 12th graders – are being asked to add, subtract, multiply, divide and perform basic English tasks. What’s so upsetting about that idea?

The California Legislature says that it’s upsetting because there is a high failure rate in high school, and the students who are not passing are poor and have bad school. So the solution is to let the school decide who graduates by requiring either the high school exit exam or a senior project. The schools would be the ones evaluating the senior project if the Legislature gets their way. As of yet, this idea has not gone anywhere and the high school exit exam is still in place. The Legislature wants to change the story to focus on the 10% of seniors who will not get their diploma because they cannot pass the exit exam.

The story shouldn’t be that approximately 10% of seniors won’t get their diplomas – rather the story should be that approximately 10% of high school seniors cannot perform math and English at a 9th grade level. The exit exam tests math and English 9th grade level, which is something that a high school senior should be able to do. After all, that high school senior passed 9th grade. 

The exit exam’s goal is to attain a standard level of competence throughout the state. A child who graduates 12th grade, and fails this exam, cannot demonstrate that they have mastered these basic skills. This child is not prepared for life. The State, by undertaking the obligation to teach and educate our children, has an obligation to do so in a manner which will prepare them for life. Why should the state agree to give them a diploma and put them into the real world when the child does not have the skills to survive in the real world?

The process for taking the test, and the content of the test itself, were studied for many years. It has been determined to be equivalent to the exit exams in other states. Why should
California exempt their seniors from a test similar to 39 other states?
California’s seniors have chances in 10th, 11th and 12th grade to take this exam. There is no reason to be unable to pass this exam after 3 years of knowing what is on it, and after passing the classes in which the material on the exam is taught.

California’s job market is highly competitive. All jobs require some ability to do math and English at a basic level. Even McDonald’s employees must be able to read, process language, and do math at a basic level. Additionally,
California is considered on the leading edge of technology, with some of the best universities in the world. How do we allow our children to leave high school unprepared for the role that they will take in our society? How can someone who cannot 9th grade math and English be expected to help keep
California on the leading edge?

California’s High School Exit Exam provides a standard for all high school graduates. It ensures that all students graduating have a standard level of ability and skills. There is no reason we cannot expect all of our high school graduates to have a set of skills that will enable them to participate in society when they leave school.