Study shows exit exams affecting graduation rates

By René Hill

Wednesday, May 13, 2009 | 6:37 p.m.

Rene Hill

A new study conducted by the Center for Education Policy has shown that exit exams impact some groups of students more than others. The study was based on California's exit exam, but the results are relevant for other states that require an exit exam.

While proponents of exit exams see them as a way to motivate students to higher levels of achievement, critics are concerned that these exams come down harder on students from poor families and minority groups or under-resourced schools. The researchers followed the first three graduating classes to take the new exit exams in California in their 10th grade year. What they found was a drop in the graduation rate from 3 to 4 percentage points a year. That is a 9 to 12 percent drop in graduation. Here in Nevada, we have seen similar results as students take and fail the state proficiency exam.

Although students have plenty of opportunities to retake the exams, many become discouraged and skip school on the retake days. My own experience with high school has proven this theory. Many of my low achieving and students with learning disabilities did everything they could to avoid yet another failure to let them know how "dumb" they were. While we definitely need to make a high school diploma worth something, there have to be some alternatives for the students who are falling through the cracks.

There are several explanations as to why certain groups tend to fail the test, but research has not supported these theories. As a result, researchers are trying to find out why some groups continue to fail the exit exam. A new explanation for the differences is called a "stereotype effect." The term refers to the tendency of people to fare less well on tests when they fear their efforts will confirm a negative stereotype about their group. The California researchers said that this effect was a likely explanation for the drop in their exam rates, however it still does not create a solution.

As long as an exit exam is required of our graduating high school students, graduation rates will drop. Some students are not academic or have problems with testing. There is no one solution to the problem. A diploma must have requirements in order to mean something, and some students will not be up to those standards. The question is what to do with those kids?

Rene Hill is an English teacher in the Clark County School District. She can be reached c/o The News, 2275 Corporate Circle, Third Floor, Henderson, NV 89074 or [email protected].