I was told by a Washington State Senator that he was unwilling to move his position on new state graduation requirements. For students to receive their diploma in 2013, they are required to pass the state math exam. He told me anything less would be a "Lesser Than" diploma, which was unacceptable. The class of 2012 did not have the math requirement to pass the state math standard, however students had to pass 3 credits of math. The "Lesser Than" diploma he was referring to would be the 2012 graduation requirements. I'm confused by his lack of knowledge to make such a bold statement...."Lesser Than". The class of 2012 in Washington State scored the highest average score on the SAT and were No 1 in the nation....with a "Lesser Than" diploma.
The ideology that is building momentum in Washington State is quite frightening. Our elected officials have taken upon themselves the moral responsibility of deciding which students are worthy to enter the gate of opportunity and which students they will turn away at the gate's entrance. To say it more boldly, our policy makers are making a judgement as to who is worthy and who is labeled unworthy.They are making the moral judgement as to who walks through and who is forced into dropout status.This is an ideology, it is not back by any evidence-based research.
Our Office of Superintendent of Public Education is at it again. The only barrier keeping these kids from a diploma is the state math standard, all these kids have earned their 3 credits of math. It took over eight weeks to receive the breakdown of the students who were at risk. The document was finally turned over after the deadline for any new bills to be introduced into the Washington State House or Senate. Did it come out late for a reason? I can't say. However, the breakdown showed high poverty and minority rates among the students who were at risk for not graduating. After the last test results have come back, the number is still in the thousands, but for some reason OSPI can't seem to get it together and they are stalling again to release the public record.
Read this gut-wrenching letter that was forwarded to me.I took the girl's name and high school out of the letter to protect them. THIS WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA WHAT HAPPENS WHEN IDEOLOGY TAKES PRIORITY OVER EVIDENCE BASED RESEARCH. I have to warn you, this is very painful to read....
I literally stumbled upon your post regarding End of Course Math Exam...it was like a light shining in my personal darkness. I'm praying that you will be able to direct me to the right people who will be able to help me find a way for my daughter who is a senior in high school graduate with her class, here in XXXXXXXXXX, Washington.My daughter currently has a GPA of 3.8, has all of her necessary credits to graduate along with taking 'running start' classes, and volunteering with 'building futures program, mentoring young girls.
Yet, through out her years of schooling has always had a difficult time with math. She has had tutors, and I have asked for help from the school but was ineffective in their methods.
When I read your article about adverse childhood experiences it really resonated with me and I believe that it has a lot to do with her difficulty with math. She had a hard time in school since Kindergarten with her shyness and it continued all through out her education.
This caused a lot of issues for her. Recently her ACE was increased these last few years with her father almost dying twice in addition all the stress that has been put on her to pass this exam. She has been suffering heart palpitations, fever, vomiting, this happens before each test, yet she pulls herself out of bed to take the exam. The night before she was to take her SAT, specifically to pass the math portion, which if placed high enough it would enable her to bypass the end of course math exam: she was in the emergency ward because I was so frightened: she had an accelerated heart beat, chest pain, fever of 104. They could find no cause other than say it was stress related.
To add to her stress is that she will not be able to graduate, walk with her class, and receive her diploma. The school district has no compassion for all that she has been through and look at her like she's a failure, regardless of all her achievements, high GPA, and acceptance into college. Why continue with the last few weeks of school and all the commitments and obligations that have yet to be met? Knowing that she will not graduate.
What can I do? As a parent, my heart just breaks for her, and I know that she is not alone. I worry for her and all the other children. Why are our children being treated like this? Please help me find some answers.
Thank you for taking the time to read my message: any suggestions would be most appreciated.
Blessings,
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