State School Board Changes Alabama Grad Rules

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Posted: 11:27 AM May 9, 2008
Last Updated: 11:27 AM May 9, 2008

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The State Board of Education has unanimously voted to change the requirements for Alabama's high school diploma.

The board also passed an emergency rule amendment to allow seniors who have not passed all five sections of the high school exit exam to graduate this year.

The votes drew shouts and applause from the audience at the Thursday meeting where several parents spoke and told of their children's' struggle to pass some parts of the exam.

The changes would become mandatory for all school systems in the 2008-09 school year, but some could start on a voluntary basis this fall.

The biggest change automatically enrolls all students for the state's Advanced Diploma and gives parents the choice of opting their children out to get the Basic Diploma.

Currently all students get the Basic Diploma unless they sign up for the advanced track.

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Posted by: Anonymous Location: Mannheim on Jun 29, 2008 at 07:17 PM
I agree with Melanie its not fair for the one's who didn't pass and only fail my 2 to 3 ?'s. But you know what i fail two but I went back and took it again passed one and fail the other by 1. But that didn't stop me from doing what I had plan for my career.Yes I am upset because I can't go to college because i didn't pass the exit exam. I cry everyday with anger because I went to school for 12 years making good grade never got a D in class but 3 weeks before graduation I can't walk across the stage.I feel like those years was a waist of my time. Now that I'm older no matter what I'm going back cause I'm still determine to pass and show everyone to don't give up. Whether they take it out or not.

Posted by: Diplomahope Location: Florida on Jun 6, 2008 at 07:02 PM
I find it interesting that many students who fail their Exam Exams have report slips that show they passed all their classes in high school. Do they know the subject materials or not? Did the teachers "fudge" the grades on the report slips? Why would they??? I think the daily work in the classroom, evaluated by the teachers, is a trurer picture of what each student has learned than those Exit Exams. If the teacher is empowered to award a passing grade to a student, I think we should trust the teacher's judgment! Our daughter faileded her Exit Exam, but passed all her classes and earned all the credits she needed to graduate - you might want to do what we did. A friend told us about THE OAKS PRIVATE SCHOOL www.theoaksprivatechool.com in Florida. They are a legal, FLDOE recognized school who awards Diplomas to students throughout the US who have earned enough credit to graduate. They ARE NOT a diploma mill. The student must have truly earned enough credits. The school does charge for the service, but it's not too much, considering our daughter now has a real diploma from a real school - not just a certificate.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Dale County on May 26, 2008 at 09:05 PM
I hope this means I can automatically get into Advance courses now. I'll be starting 11nth grade, and you have to sign up for Advanced in the 9th grade. I too basic, a decision that I regretted. When I know I'm smart enough for advanced at this point.

Posted by: William Location: Dothan on May 23, 2008 at 04:42 PM
Suggested solution. Have teacher across the state develop semester test buy grade on core subjects. Give all students by grade across the state the same test. A standard test created by the teachers that teach would give feed back to both the teachers ability to teach and the students grasp of the subject matter. There will alway be exceptions to the rule but it seems to me it would be better than an exit exam and would allow the schools time to help the students who need additional help. I know this would not be popular with the educators but it would work much better than what we have been doing. We have great teachers. Why not take advantage of their know how.

Posted by: nicole Location: ozark on May 12, 2008 at 04:17 PM
I no people now that if it wasnt for this change they would have to come back next school year.I dont see what the point is going to school for 12 years working your hardest doing the best that you can do and have it come down to 5 test thats not right some work hard everyday do what there told and everything but still cant pass the exams so i think there should either be no exams or eliminate 2 or 3 of them to give us some what of a change to graduate and be successful in our lives.

Posted by: annie Location: geneva on May 10, 2008 at 09:12 PM
What is the purpose of testing the students if they have passed each grade successfully? Seems to me it is a waste of taxpayers $'s--- many of them do not pass all of the tests. Maybe one of the reasons they don't pass is because they are not taught the subject fully. Some of these students strive to do their very best only to find when it is time to graduate---they are denied their diploma--because of not passing the exit EXAM. What a blow to the student's self-esteem. As one person asked "What happens to all the others who failed by 1-3 ?'s." on 1 part of the exam? Give these students a break---let them have their diploma--1 student I know was an Advanced Diploma student with an A-B average. What a shame. DO away with the EXIT EXAM and let the teachers teach.

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Slocomb on May 9, 2008 at 09:46 PM
I think we need more teacher who are there for the kids. We have too many coaches teaching, but they are only there to win games. We need more info sent home in high school so parents can help. I know at Slocomb High they don't care if your kid pass or fail. The grades K-5 does a great job. Grades 6-12 don't care and that makes the kids don't care.

Posted by: Melani Location: Ozark, AL on May 9, 2008 at 08:11 PM
I dont think that is fair to the fellow students in the past who havn't passed the grad exam. Im one of them. By one subject and by three questions. That is not fair to me or the other students who struggle in their lives today if the dont have their diploma.

Posted by: Anonymous on May 9, 2008 at 01:32 PM
Great Job!! Lowering the standards just made Alabama the dumbest state. Make our children learn, make our teachers teach. You all should be ashammed of your selves...you just made me wish I had my child enrolled in a school that cares about HIGHER education... Sad, I suppose this "improves" grades so it makes us look smarter...when they go to college the drop out rate is going to triple. You just did an injustice to ALL ALABAMA children...hope your proud. Now noone will have to joke about being from LA...and being rednecks and uneducated...you just made it the truth. You people must have ONLINE DIPLOMA MILL EDUCATIONS!!! Which are worthless like you!!

Posted by: Bill Location: Enterprise on May 9, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Too many minority dropouts so they had to lower the grad standards. lol. China, Japan and Europe are laughing at us and cleaning our clock in Math & Science. (not PC)

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