Students March Against High School Exit Exams
Posted on: Thursday, 18 May 2006, 09:10 CDT
By Luis Zaragoza, San Jose Mercury News, Calif.
May 18--Students demanding high school exit exam changes marched Wednesday in support of a court ruling that prevents the state from denying diplomas to seniors who have not passed the test of basic math and English.
State school officials have said they plan to challenge that ruling, made last week in Alameda County Superior Court. An announcement is expected today on legal moves the state plans to take.
Wednesday afternoon, about 50 students marched around the Santa Clara County government building on Hedding Street in San Jose, carrying placards that read, "Educate, don't terminate" and "Don't deny diplomas."
Gustavo Arancivia, 16, a junior at James Lick High in San Jose, said Wednesday that he passed the exam as a sophomore, but older classmates still learning English have had a difficult time passing the language portions.
Students who haven't passed the test but have met other graduation requirements should be allowed to "have a chance at a better future by being given a diploma," he said.
An estimated 47,000 seniors have failed the exam or await results. Those who've met all other graduation requirements would be eligible to receive diplomas this year if Judge Robert Freedman's ruling in connection with Valenzuela vs. O'Connell is not reversed on appeal.
Freedman last week sided with Liliana Valenzuela and other students who sued the state to delay the exam's consequences, arguing that not all students have had access to the same quality of education.
Although nearly 90 percent of public school seniors have passed the exam, only 83 percent of low-income seniors and 71 percent of seniors who are learning English have passed. Results from the exam given in March are expected within the next few weeks.
Jack O'Connell, the state schools chief, has opposed delays. The exam has been administered for six years, but the Class of 2006 was scheduled to be the first to be denied diplomas for failing.
The march Wednesday was organized by Californians for Justice, a statewide group that works to empower students of color and has offices in San Jose. The group has filed a separate suit challenging the exam.
Jenny Pearlman of Public Advocates, the legal firm representing Californians for Justice, said: "We will not stop until all students have equal and fair educational opportunities."
Contact Luis Zaragoza at lzaragoza@mercurynews.com or (408) 920-5803.
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Copyright (c) 2006, San Jose Mercury News, Calif.
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Source: San Jose Mercury News
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