Twenty-two do not pass high school proficiency exam

For 37 Carson High School students, the results of the math portion of the proficiency exam added up to victory.

"They were happy boys and girls," said Principal Glen Adair.

For 22 of them, it meant defeat.

"My heart goes out to them," Adair said.

After a long wait, the high school last week received the results of the final exam before graduation.

Of the 22 who did not pass the test, 11 of them were special education students and seven were students for whom English ss a second language.

Maggie Clement's son was one who did not pass.

"I don't even know how to console him," she said. "He went to school for 12 years and he gets nothing."

Adair said he had not yet had the opportunity to talk to the students' parents but said the special education students may have the option of receiving an adjusted diploma.

The results came nearly a month later than expected.

"I apologize to those parents for getting this late," Adair said. "This was out of our control. I sincerely hope the state recognizes this problem."

Dave Cook of the State Board of Education said the blame did not fall on the state. He said the testing company, CTB, promised a 28-day turnaround.

However, some school districts tested late this year because they waited until after spring break. He said the company could not just assess Carson City's results but had to wait until the rest of the districts sent in their exams as well.

"It does sound goofy, but the fact is that's the way these large testing companies work," Cook said. "They like to do it in big batches because it's cost-effective."

Adair said last year six regular education students did not pass the test. This year four of them didn't pass.

"It's less this year than last year and this year's graduating class is larger," he said. "Truly, by holding them to a higher standard, the kids are stepping higher."

Clement said she will discuss the issue with the State Board of Education.

"If this is going to be state mandated, they need to prepare the kids for it," she said.

The test will be offered again in June and Adair said the students always have the option of enrolling in high school for a fifth year.

"They only have to go back through those classes that will help them," he said.

Paul LaMarka, the leader for standards curriculum and assessment for the Nevada Department of Education, said the numbers for the state level have not yet been figured.

He said they will be presented at the state board meeting on June 9.

Cook said he believes the test to be effective but would like to see it offered only twice during the school year.

"I would like to see just one test in the fall and one in the spring and another in the summer," he said. "The tests are so close together there's not enough time to evaluate and effectively remediate.

"If we just do two a year, I think the tests will be viewed a little more seriously."

The test is currently offered in October, February, April and June.