Proficiency exam policy may be askew

English professor Michelle Trusty-Murphy said she struggled with tests through her life but never let it stand in the way of her success.

However, she said the high school proficiency exam may limit the success of Nevada's students.

"I did horribly on every standardized test I ever took, but I have a Ph.D. and I got it in record time," Trusty-Murphy said. "A test cannot possibly show you the most important part of a child and that is dedication, hard work and perseverance."

Every student must pass the proficiency exam in order to graduate from high school with a standard diploma.

Trusty-Murpy said the law allows for some exceptions but that those exceptions are not recognized by school officials.

The state law says students whose primary language is not English and whose English-language skills are below the proficiency level are exempt from taking the exam.

Special-education students whose individualized program specifies that they should be exempt are also exempt.

However, Superintendent Jim Parry said that being exempt from the test does not qualify them for a standard diploma.

"All of the guidelines say if you don't pass the test, you do not get a high school diploma," Parry said. "They could be exempted from the test if they choose not to get a diploma."

Parry said they are given either "Adjusted Diplomas" or "Certificates of Attendance."

Trusty-Murphy said that is not enough.

"Those kids should be getting regular diplomas because they are exempt," said.

Additionally, she said those students who are exempt from the proficiency exam are not eligible to receive the Millennium Scholarship because the exam is one of the requirements.

She said the State Board of Regents did not have the right to require that students pass the exam.

"They really overstepped their legislative mandate," she said. "As it stands right now, thousands of kids, disabled and minority specifically, will be denied the scholarship on the regents' faulty guidelines and the state will get involved in needless litigation."

Gloria Dopf, the state director of special education, said she and the board of regents will look into the matter.

"The whole issue with the Millennium Scholarship is a new wrinkle to this," Dopf said. "It has newly become an issue."

Trusty-Murphy said mildly mentally retarded students, who would not normally attend a four-year university, could use the scholarship toward a community college.

"We have a lot of wonderful vocational programs at the community college that these kids could be missing out on," she said.