To be eligible, students must have individualized education
plan
Associated Press
Sacramento – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a bill Monday to temporarily exempt special education students from having to pass California’s high school exit exam.
The bill by Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, is intended to settle claims made in a lawsuit that the exam discriminates against the disabled. It gives the state one year to come up with a permanent solution for special education students.
The class of 2006 is the first in California to be required to pass the exam, which seeks to measure a student’s abilities in math and English.
An Oakland-based advocacy group sued in 2001 on behalf of special education students, and a settlement was reached with the state last August. Democrats altered the bill to give special education students a two-year exemption, prompting State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell to withdraw his support and Schwarzenegger to veto it.
To be eligible for the exemption, special ed students with disabilities must have an individualized education plan and have taken the exam with accommodations or test modifications at least two times since 10th grade, once during their senior year. They also must meet all other local graduation requirements.
Opponents of the test say as many as 100,000 students might not receive a diploma this year because they have not passed one or both parts of the exam.
State Superintendent of Public Schools Jack O’Connell has refused to offer alternatives for students who can’t pass the test, which measures math and English skills. Instead, he has said students can continue to take the test until they pass, and can do remedial coursework, summer school, or repeat their senior year.
