9486 in the collection
Students who fail TAKS apt to fail again
Ohanian Comment: I confess that I have found myself telling desperate parents about a private school in Maine that offers similar diploma options. And every time I do it I think about the thousands of students without the means to get a diploma this way.
The Texas Preparatory School has a rather odd website. . . and I don't mean just spelling and typos. History. the category I most wanted to read, is "under construction." The Faculty and staff category has two pictures, only one of them being identified. Accreditation is unique. Tuition at Texas Preparatory Academy is $4800 per academic year, but apparently that fee doesn't cover necessities:
For the Spring Semester... tuition will increase by $60 per month unless otherwise specified in a prior discusion[sic] with me. ALL STUDENTS MUST HAVE the necessary supplies for school to include paper towels, klenex [sic] and toilet paper donations. IF any student does not make contributions to assist with these needs and/or does not have the appropriate supplies, said student runs the risk of temporary suspension.
By Rhiannon Meyers
Education: Local school districts to learn how seniors performed in July
High School seniors denied graduation because they failed the state’s exit level standardized exam likely will fail again when they attempt it in July, according to information from the Texas Education Agency.
A public information request revealed that a quarter of Galveston County seniors passed the TAKS test when they tried it again in July 2006.
Out of the 191 Galveston County seniors who failed the TAKS test in 2006, 131 students, or 69 percent, attempted the test again in July.
Of those, 34 students, or 26 percent, passed and were then allowed to graduate.
That was last school year. Area school districts will learn this week how many seniors, who were supposed to graduate in May, passed the July administration of the exam. Some districts, like such as Galveston’s school district, will hold a graduation ceremonies for those seniors in late August.
But, if history repeats itself, there will be few students at those August graduations.
For example, most seniors last year failed the science TAKS test. There were 124 seniors denied graduation because they failed the science exam. Of those, 79 reattempted it in July —– only 19 passed.
And although some students get frustrated and accept a GED instead of a diploma, others keep taking the TAKS until they pass, said Suzanne Marchman, spokeswoman for the Texas Education Agency. A public information request shows that 79 Galveston County seniors who didn’t pass the TAKS in either April or July returned in October to try again. Some former students are still trying to pass a state standardized exam called TAAS, which was replaced by the TAKS in 2003, Marchman said.
This year, 16 percent of the state’s 244,346 seniors didn’t graduate because they failed the TAKS test. That’s a record high for Texas, according to the Texas Education Association.
In Galveston, 75 seniors, or 16 percent, of the district’s 462 seniors failed. In Hitchcock, eight, or 11 percent, of the district’s 75 seniors failed.
But many of those returned to take the exam again in July, according to information from local school districts.
In Galveston, 43 seniors, or 57 percent, came back for the test in July. In Santa Fe, both seniors who failed the TAKS in April returned in July to try again.
But in Hitchcock, none of the seniors returned to take the July test. That’s because they didn’t have to.
Hitchcock High School’s administration encouraged seniors who failed the test to withdraw from the district and enroll in Alvin-based Texas Preparatory Academy, said Superintendent Michael Bergman.
Texas private schools aren’t regulated by the state, and, therefore, private- school students don’t have to pass the state’s standardized test to get a diploma. The Texas Education Agency doesn’t track the trend, but it appears that at least 100 Galveston County students this year enrolled in private schools to skirt the state’s graduation requirements.
For a pro-rated tuition payment, private schools in Alvin and Pearland accepted students with enough credits to graduate.
Henry Robledo was one of those students. Robledo’s struggle started when his grandfather died unexpectedly the night before Robledo attempted the last TAKS exam before graduation. He failed the math portion and was denied graduation. Robledo’s mother, Sylvia Robledo, pulled him from Ball High School, paid $250 and enrolled him in Texas Preparatory Academy. Robledo graduated Saturday in Alvin in front of his family, friends and old Ball High School classmates from Ball High School.
“I just feel overwhelmed that my son graduated,” said Sylvia Robledo. “Hey, Galveston didn’t want to do it (so we went to) private schools. ... I’m glad he can go ahead and start his life now.”
School said they administrators remained optimistic that students this year will be more successful than those seniors who reattempted the test in July 2006.
To assure greater success, Galveston school district implemented a 21-day summer TAKS preparatory class for the first time. Deb Owens, principal of summer school for high school students, said more than 100 students participated in the class.
“I can’t help but think we’re going to have good news,” she said.
Seniors who fail the exam again in July can continue to take it until they pass, Marchman said. A student has five chances to attempt the TAKS before graduation. The Texas Education Agency does not track the average number of times it takes for a senior to pass the exam.
However, Marchman said those who fail the TAKS test multiple times should consider asking for one-on-one tutoring if they haven’t already done so.
The 80th Legislature passed a law allowing schools to receive funding for providing instruction to students up to 26 years old. The Legislature extended the age from 21 to 26 years old because former students are returning to school for instruction at an older age when they continue to fail the TAKS test, Marchman said.
— Rhiannon Meyers
Galveston County The Daily News
2007-08-07
INDEX OF OUTRAGES
Pages: 380
[1] 2 3 4 5 6 Next >> Last >>
