Failing vital test won't mar teens' college chances

The third time on the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test didn't end up being the charm one Cache Valley teen had hoped for.

She still failed the math portion. And her parents say they won't make her take it again.

That's according to a report from State Board of Education member Teresa Theurer, who received a letter from the girl's parents about their experiences and concerns.

"I think this is the first of quite a few parent concerns we're going to receive in the next year," she said.

But it's unclear what failing the UBSCT might mean for students beginning with the Class of 2006.

One thing does appear solid, however: It alone won't affect a teen's shot at college.

The Utah System of Higher Education doesn't plan on focusing on whether students have a regular or alternative diploma at admissions, Commissioner Rich Kendell said.

Rather, it will continue focusing on other factors, including grade point averages and college entrance test scores.

"We probably will rely on usual methods for assessing students," Kendell said. "There's no place in the (admissions) index for a UBSCT score . . . I've never thought of the UBSCT as . . . tied to college."

The UBSCT is Utah's only high-stakes test. By law, students must pass its reading, writing and math portions in order to get a regular high school diploma. Otherwise, they might get an alternative diploma.

Kendell says colleges deal with alternative diplomas, or a lack thereof — "it's not an absolute requirement" — say, from a student who has been educated at home. Sometimes, those students' scores on college entrance tests speak for themselves.

But State Board of Education Chairman Kim Burningham says the test should matter to kids nonetheless.

The UBSCT aims to signal a high school graduate has a certain set of basic skills, he said. If a student cannot pass the UBSCT, will she have a high enough score on a college entrance test to be accepted?

"It can signal to (the student), 'I need to do more work,' " Burningham said.

And ultimately, employers will be armed with information on the skill level of prospective workers, he said.

"There's this whole issue of our employers out there," Burningham said. "Does it make a difference to them? Yes, it does."

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com