New law lets some high school students skip exit exam New law lets some high school students skip exit exam (February 03, 2006)

By Molly Tanenbaum

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill into law Monday that will grant diplomas to certain high school students with learning disabilities, even if they cannot pass the state exit exam that is required for all other students.

"We were expecting it because there's been a lot of talk about it in the news until now," said Hilarey Davis, director of special education for the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District. Davis estimated that this new law will affect between 12 and 16 students in the district this year.

The new law, part of SB 517, will go into effect immediately but only applies to seniors graduating this year. Graduating seniors must meet certain requirements, including satisfying all other prerequisites for earning a diploma, as well as attempting to pass the exit exam at least twice after 10th grade.

This is the first group of seniors for whom the exit exam will determine whether or not they receive a diploma in June, and many throughout the state voiced concerns that the exit exam would be unfair to students with special needs.

"It is incumbent upon us to ensure through uniform standards that our children are receiving the best possible education, but we must also be vigilant that our disabled students are not penalized," Schwarzenegger said in a Monday press release about the new law.

While Davis was glad to hear the news, she believes this law doesn't completely address concerns about the affects the exit exam will have on students throughout the state this spring.

"It's this year only and it doesn't speak to the number of students -- not just in our district but in California -- whose English is their second or third language, and who are struggling with vocabulary and the kinds of things you and I would be struggling with if we moved to Russia as freshmen," Davis said. "They're not ready yet and those students again will not be receiving a diploma."

E-mail Molly Tanenbaum at mtanenbaum@mv-voice.com

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