Math Was Biggest Stumbling Block to Passing Basic Skills Test

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Doing the math -- that was the biggest stumbling block to students taking the state's new basic skills test.

Results of the fifth and final administration of the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test arrived at schools Tuesday, and the bottom line was that 3,287 of the seniors who took the tests -- nearly one in 10 -- failed to pass all three sections of the test.

Under state law, those students should not get a regular diploma. Instead, those who tried at least three times to pass the test and still failed should get an alternative diploma, and those who didn't try three times but met graduation requirements would get a certificate of completion.

The state Board of Education determined that the first two groups will get diplomas but the parchments will say whether they passed the tests.

The test is intended to show whether the students have acquired 10th grade competency in math, writing and reading.

Of the 3,287 students who did not pass all three parts of the test, 2,678 ran afoul of the math section. They included 1,224 who passed reading and writing put failed the mail portion. There were 427 students who passed all but the writing test and 49 who passed all but reading. And 784 students failed all three sections.

This year's seniors are the first class to be required to pass the test to get the full diploma.

They had their first chance to take the test in their sophomore year.

Sue Malone, principal of Hillcrest High School in Midvale, said the Class of 2006 students at her school were only "partially serious" about the test when they took it as sophomores.

"By the time they were seniors, they were extremely serious about passing, to the point that they were very stressed out," Malone said.

Some students were moved into remediation classes during the school day at Hillcrest; others attended after-school help sessions.

UBSCT results identified achievement gaps related to race, ethnicity and income levels, but the largest gaps involved students with disabilities and recent arrivals who lacked English proficiency.

Students with severe cognitive disabilities take an alternate assessment and receive certificates of completion.

Malone's toughest experience in implementing the new system was watching students with moderate disabilities try to pass UBSCT over and over but fail.

"To see them come so close but not get there was disheartening," she said.

It was also difficult to watch students new to this country try to complete writing exams in English.

"To write a persuasive essay in English when you are still learning basic English words is a lot to ask," Malone said.

Malone said that at Hillcrest, the Utah board's decision to grant diplomas to students failing a portion of UBSCT if they tried at least three times did not lessen students' interest in passing.

"Students worked hard, because they want their diplomas worded in the most positive way," she said. "And that label goes on their transcripts, too. That's what employers really ask for."

However, some legislators have been critical of the board's decision and have said the issue will be revisited.

Sen. Howard Stephenson, president of the business-backed Utah Taxpayers Association, said earlier that the decision sent a message that the pressure is off.

"Students are saying they dodged a bullet," he said.

On the other hand, state Superintendent of Public Instruction Patti Harrington would have preferred a "value-added" diploma that honored those passing the test but remained silent about those who failed.

"Diplomas should be framed; they shouldn't be torn up," Harrington said.

Provo Assistant Superintendent Ray Morgan, said, "We want students to look at their diploma as a paper that demonstrates their value. To have a stamp on their diploma that says they did not pass, that's kind of a slap in the face for those students."'

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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