Keeping students from falling through the cracks
Oregon students who need additional help in meeting the state's new standards will have options.
By Jim Seckler
In the end, most Oregon students will meet the requirements of the Oregon Education Act of 1991. But what will happen to those kids who don't excel, those who lack the confidence in their work and those who may not care if they succeed or not?
Tanya Gross, education program specialist with the Oregon Department of Education, said that many students won't meet the new higher standards the first time they try because they haven't had the curriculum and instruction yet. "It will take time for students to achieve these new high standards," she said. "It won't happen overnight."
Will the new standards lead to more students falling through the cracks? What measures will be taken by school districts to ensure that all students have the chance to succeed? According to a March 5, 1998, Register-Guard editorial, there is concern that the dropout rate (currently 6.7 percent statewide and 5.5 percent in Lane County) may actually increase with the new standards. The fear is that with budget squeezes and higher standards, the individual needs of problem students may be overlooked.
Kids who don't try
While a teacher cannot force a student to achieve higher goals, the student will be given several opportunities to pass the new, performance-based evaluations. Students who don't meet the state standards by the time they finish high school can still graduate and receive a diploma. However, Gross said her department has already heard from employers who intend to give preference to applicants who have met the new standards once they are in place. Students who didn't pass CIM/CAM may also be overlooked when applying to colleges.
Kids who try but fail
Starting in the 1998-1999 school year, students in grades 3, 5 and 8 who fail to meet the minimum scores required on state and local tests and assessments are given several follow-up exams. Starting that same school year, students will have three opportunities per year to meet the grade 10 state tests. Additional help can come in the form of more time to complete a task, a mentor or different learning materials. As a last resort, a student could transfer to another school or district. A student may feel more comfortable in another district, or another district might have more individual assistance for that student, Gross said.School districts are required to offer the extra help to students who do not meet the new assessment criteria. The district will offer support programs including summer school, after-school and weekend programs, along with tutoring and other activities designed to assist students to build the skills they need.
Special-ed
Out of 561,000 Oregon students, more than 62,000 children have physical or learning disabilities for which they receive special education. More than 96 percent of those attend a regular public school where they received specialized instruction. The goal in school transformation is the same for special-ed students--to provide an education that prepares them to make a living.Every student is to be considered on an individual basis and not on the basis of the category of his or her disability. The teacher and the instructional team along with the parent and student will decide whether to have the student take the standard test, take a modified test or get an exemption from one area of the test.
Modifications for students with disabilities
- Changes in the timing or scheduling of tests.
- Changes in the test directions.
- Changes in how test questions are presented.
- Changes in how a student responds.
- Changes in the test setting
- References or tools:
Home school
Students not enrolled in public schools may still take the state exams. They will receive a student report, but the scores won't be included in the school, district or state averages.Religious reasons: Parents who object to having their child take the state exams for religious or other reasons can be exempted from taking the tests
English as a second language
Currently a "bilingual" or side-by-side Spanish/English version of the state tests is available for writing and math test questions. "We're working to provide state tests at grades 3, 5, 8 and 10 in Spanish, Russian and other languages for those students who need them," Gross said.
Conclusion
As they head into the 21st century, Oregon's students, teachers, administrators and parents are confronted with the enormous task of improving education standards."The goal of Oregon's school improvement effort is to make school more challenging, more interesting and more relevant for every student so he/she is better prepared to enter college or begin working after high school," Gross said.
Email the author
"It will take time for students to achieve these new high standards. It won't happen overnight."
Tanya Gross, education program specialist with the Oregon Department of Education
Dropout rates from the State Department of Education.