Testing eight-graders before high school promotion fuels debate

CARSON CITY -- A suggestion that eighth graders pass a proficiency examination before being admitted to high school stirred a spirited debate Thursday and pitted two educators against Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno.

Raggio, chairman of a legislative committee on education, favored the test before advancing a student to high school.

"We cannot condone the practices of social promotion," he said.

The state Board of Education recently adopted a regulation that students must receive a grade of C or better in English and math before advancing to high school. The board also raised the passing score for the high school graduation proficiency tests from 61 to 64 for math and from 70 to 71 for English.

But Bill Hanlon, a Las Vegas member of the state Board of Education, told the committee that a single examination should not have the full say about whether the student gets into high school. Instead, he said there also should be consideration from teachers, parents and the school principal.

Hanlon and education board member Dave Cook of Carson City told the committee that if it requires these examinations, then the state should put money up for summer schools and remediation programs for the students who don't pass.

The committee deferred action on the recommendation and the debate shifted to the proficiency tests that high school seniors are required to pass before graduating.

Those entering the senior class this year took the test which nearly 40 percent of them failed for the first time as juniors last year. They will have four more chances to pass the examination to get their diplomas. The next examination is in October.

Hanlon said he expects the failure rate for the juniors taking the test to be 45 percent with 65 percent of the blacks and 60 percent of the Hispanics not passing. "Those are not acceptable retention rates," Hanlon said, in referring to the raised passing scores.

The committee did recommend a bill be drafted for the 1999 Legislature to spend up to $15 million to set up regional centers in Las Vegas, Elko, Reno and Douglas County to train teachers on the higher standards being required of students.

The committee also asked that a resolution be drafted asking the state Commission on Professional Standards to raise the passing score for teachers to earn a certificate.

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