Exam deadline looms

About 17 percent of Utah seniors still have to pass one or more sections of the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test and data shows pass rates in students with disabilities, English language learners and other minority groups lagging behind.

After five chances to pass the exam, next month is the Class of 2006's last chance to make the grade in order to have it noted on their high school diplomas.

"Kids have sobered up — and I say that with great kindness," said Patti Harrington, state superintendent of Public Instruction, Wednesday in presenting the results first to the legislature's Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee.

Math has been the toughest on students.

Thirteen percent of students still need to pass the math exam, while 7 percent need to pass in writing and 3 percent in reading.

"The point is, when you say 13 percent looks like a high number (that still need to pass math), 11 percent is (students) who have a language challenge or a documented disability," said Russell Klein, results coordinator with the State Office of Education's assessment and accountability department. "To have it down to 2 percent in my mind, that's a pretty good job."

All Utah students, beginning with this year's seniors, have to pass all three sections — reading, math and writing — of the UBSCT in order to get a full diploma.

Students who take the test at least three times but still don't pass can still get a diploma, but it will specify the student didn't pass the exam. Those not reaching either benchmark might get a certificate of completion.

State leaders say the good news is that since the initial UBSCT was given in February 2004, the number of students who still need to pass tests has diminished with each testing administration.

After the first test, 33 percent of students, or more than 12,000, didn't pass math. Now, the number is down to 13 percent, or about 4,500 still needing to pass, the state report shows.

"From 33 percent to 13 percent (shows) a lot of work has gone on in those schools," Klein said.

The only gap between boys and girls is in the writing portion of the test where 96 percent of girls have passed the test, but only 90 percent of boys.

However, the largest gap is between students with learning disabilities and students without disabilities.