Disabled students required to pass exit exam (From SFGATE.COM)
Nanette Asimov, Chronicle Staff Writer
High school seniors in special education classes will be required for the first time this year to pass California’s exit exam to qualify for a diploma after lawyers for the disabled failed to get them an exemption.
A legal settlement, expected to be filed today in Alameda County Superior Court, will end a 7-year-old lawsuit that challenged a state law requiring all students – including those with mental or physical disabilities – to pass the test of basic math and English skills to graduate.
Passing the exit exam became a requirement for all seniors in 2006, but lawyers from Disability Rights Advocates in Berkeley won exemptions for special-education students in 2006 and 2007.
Both sides said today’s settlement includes no exemptions.
That means Shaneka “Precious” Washington and other seniors in special education who have met all other graduation requirements will not get diplomas on graduation day unless they pass the test in time.
“I would be heartbroken,” said Washington, 18, a senior with learning disabilities at Balboa High School in San Francisco. “I don’t like to cry in front of people, but that would be the day I would.”
Tags: education, exit exam, special education, teachers, TEAMS, TEAMS/AmeriCorps, urban, urban education
April 5, 2008 at 7:33 am
This is a unfair law for students who have learning disabilities. Speaking as a mother who’s son is autistic. All the children who are in special ed have IEP’s written by their teachers who know what realistic goals their students can reach. If the student meet these academic goals, they should be honored and rewarded. The reward is their high school diploma that they have worked hard for.