Statistics show that 4,000 seniors around the state have not yet taken one or more of the tests because they had not taken the courses in English, biology, American government and Algebra I. If they don't take the exams until April, they will not have the results until May, just a few weeks before graduation. That would leave those students with little chance to get extra help to pass the tests.
The state could decide to offer hundreds of students exemptions under the appeals process. However, Grasmick called it "an appeals process for extraordinary circumstances" and not a major loophole for all those who failed. She said a legitimate reason for an appeal would be that "the student has not had the opportunity to take the course until senior year."
The majority of seniors taking the courses and tests for the first time are those who are taking longer to get through the high school curriculum because they have a language barrier or have special needs.
Many of the English learners are in Montgomery County, whose superintendent, Jerry Weast, helped lead the push to reconsider making the tests mandatory this year. After the motion to delay failed, board member Kate Walsh introduced a motion to delay making the tests a graduation requirement for special education and students who are learning English.
But the board decided to discuss that issue at its December meeting.
School board member Dunbar Brooks argued vehemently for the tests, saying that those who proposed a delay were being "disingenuous and dishonest" because they really wanted to get rid of them altogether. Delaying the requirements just continues a system that leaves young blacks unprepared for jobs when they graduate and keeps the same social inequities that have existed for decades, he said.
Several other educators and board members argued that the HSA requirement would raise the level of teaching for minority students who have previously been written off. The diploma, they said, should mean something.
Others, including teachers, parents and representatives from Montgomery County, which has a large number of Latino students, said they have no objection to the requirements but have concerns about the Class of 2009. A new, simplified version of the test for special education students has only recently been available. Also added this year were the make-up projects, known collectively as the Bridge Plan. The average student who has failed the tests has about five projects to do to meet the requirements.
