September 5, 2008

 

Number of Words: 452

 

Is the TAKS Test a fair high school graduation requirement?

 

You have been attending school for twelve long and many times grueling years.  You have finally made it, there is only one thing standing between you and that graduation stage:  the TAKS test.  Should a student be denied graduation because of one test, afterall the highschool transcript shows 24 credits have been successfully accumulated?

 

The Texas Education Agency reported that about 16 percent of Texas students who take the 11th-grade test will not pass.  But what about the 84 percent who do pass the required test? 

 

Let's keep things in perspective, the TAKS test is a basic minimum skills proficiency test.  These are skills that after twelve years of schooling, anyone with average ability should pass.  Part of the problem is the variance in grading and course requirements from teacher to teacher.  Receiving a grade of an A in one teacher's class, may be barely passing in another's.  By requiring a standardized test, it also standardizes which skills must be taught in each subject and therefor levels the playing field.  For a student to receive a passing grade of a 70 in any particular subject, mathematically that states that a student has been successful in at least 70 percent of all the assignments combined.  A student who has theoretically learned 70 percent or more of the curriculum should be able to pass the test.  Even if test anxiety is a major factor, the student has multiple opportunites for retakes and can often be accomodated in many circumstances. 

 

There is an arguement made for substituting End of Course exams for the TAKS test. The arguement being made is that it tests your knowledge at the end of the course while the information is still fresh, while the TAKS test, tests skills taught two to three years prior.  What is the message we are sending?  Memorize it long enough to pass the EOC?

 

Let's consider the 84 percent who will pass the TAKS test.  Was it done without effort?  For the majority, probably not.  Many students and their parents understand and accept the responsibility.  Schools offer numerous opportunities for assistance and the help is often times refused.  Students and parents are told repeatedly that they will not graduate unless they pass the TAKS test, it is not a last minute surprise. 

 

College and Universities are also seeing the effects of students graduating with less than minimum skills.  Many have instituted mandatory remedial courses just to prepare them for college level coursework.  College level coursework can be very demanding and challenging even for students in the top percent of their graduating class.  Not all students who pass the TAKS test are accepted into universities because it is a test showing proficiency of basic minimum skills.