Columnist Bill Hanlon: State funding urgent if students are to pass tougher tests

For Nevadans who say education is their No. 1 priority, it will be interesting to see how education is funded this session since sales and estate taxes are projected to be about $50 million short.

There is an expectation in the education community that because of the Nevada Educational Reform Act, the Legislature will fund teacher development and remediation programs for students. Without this funding, all the hoopla associated with the act is for naught.

As mandated by the Legislature, the State Board of Education last week increased passing scores on the new high school proficiency exam. You may recall that in April, when the test was initially given, 40 percent of the students taking the test failed. Students who don't pass don't graduate.

By raising passing scores to 64 percent and 71 percent respectively in math and reading, the board is expecting that about 45 percent of the students tested will not pass the total battery of tests this year.

In math, students are tested on concepts in algebra, geometry, probability and statistics. This is a more rigorous test than the old proficiency exam, and it also has a higher passing score. That may be considered a double whammy.

The failure rate by ethnicity on April's test in math was somewhat alarming with 59 percent of blacks and 56 percent of Hispanics not making the grade. With the new scores, the projected failure rates this year for blacks is 65 percent and 61 percent for Hispanics.

While these numbers are of great concern, what is even more alarming is the state board, under the mandate of the Legislature, has to increase the passing score again next year. Knowing there is a high correlation between income and passing tests, the Legislature must step up to the plate and pay for remediation for these students since many won't be able to afford it.

The council to establish academic standards will finish its work in math, English and science this month and those newer standards will be implemented and tested next year.

Let's put some of this into perspective and see if you think the state is running into trouble. Currently in math, students are tested on concepts in algebra, geometry, probability and statistics; 45 percent are expected to fail. Next year, questions on solving systems of equations, factoring polynomials, solving quadratic equations and trigonometry are being added to the test. Those additional questions might make the test more difficult, and the score to pass will be higher also. A reasonable person might expect the number of students failing would be higher.

How deep are we going to dig this hole?

I hope that I am not the only one having some difficulty with the logic here. Politics are getting in the way of common sense. Students who don't pass the test, don't graduate. My guess is that these circumstances might increase the already-high drop out rate.

With the projected deficits in sales- and estate-tax revenues, it will be interesting to see if teacher training and remediation are still priorities when it comes to funding in the upcoming legislative session.

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