Md. Approves Alternative to Tests for Graduation

BALTIMORE, Oct. 31 -- A divided Maryland State Board of Education approved a plan Wednesday that would allow students struggling to pass a set of state tests required to earn a high school diploma to complete projects as an alternative.

After rejecting a motion to delay the year the tests go into effect, the board voted 8 to 4 to approve the "bridge plan" proposed by Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick. Under the plan, students who have twice failed one or more of the High School Assessments in algebra, English, government and biology would be able to complete projects in those subjects as a substitute for passing.

With the assessments becoming a graduation requirement with the Class of 2009, there has been growing worry among some state lawmakers and local leaders that the tests could deny diplomas to hundreds or thousands of Maryland students. The concern has been aggravated by the state's inability to tell the public exactly how many students are at risk of not receiving diplomas because of problems gathering the statistics.

Critics fear that the test's impact will fall most heavily on black and Latino students, as well as students from Prince George's County and Baltimore, where school systems are in "corrective action" for poor performance on state tests. The test's supporters agree -- but they contend that the tests will push struggling students and school systems to do better by setting consequences for failure.

The vote was a victory for Grasmick, who first proposed the bridge plan in August. She said it would help students who are able to pass their classes but are having difficulty with the tests.

"The superintendents feel that all the momentum could have been lost if they had not voted" to push forward with the tests, Grasmick said.

The projects would target subject matter that was difficult for the student on the test. For example, a student unable to pass the biology assessment might complete a project dealing with the inheritance of genetic traits. The projects would be administered locally but designed and managed by the state to ensure consistency among jurisdictions.

Board member Blair G. Ewing touched off a short, sharp debate when he moved to delay the graduation requirement until 2010 to allow local school systems to devise support programs for students having trouble with the tests.

Ewing's colleague David F. Tufaro strongly implied that Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) was attempting to influence the decision. O'Malley, as governor and in his previous position as the mayor of Baltimore, has repeatedly quarreled with Grasmick over academic policy.

The four board members appointed by O'Malley were the only ones to vote for the delay, which failed to pass.

"There is a funny thing that there seems to be a comparability of view between the governor and the members," Tufaro said. "I do think this is about politics."

Ewing denied the charge. "The governor didn't tell us how to vote," he said in an interview after the meeting. "The governor's interested. I think that's perfectly appropriate."

O'Malley's spokesman, Rick Abbruzzese, said the governor met about the issue with the board's chairman, Dunbar Brooks -- whom he did not appoint -- and some other board members.

Abbruzzese said the governor did not direct any board members on how to vote.

Brooks voted in favor of Grasmick's plan.

"Is the HSA, the bridge program, perfect? No," Brooks said. "But for the first time we're going to link some adults with children who have a problem. . . . If we aren't going to get higher, to those rigorous standards, it's because we aren't pushing the envelope."

The new alternative is expected to affect 2,000 to 3,000 students of those expected to graduate in 2009, according to Ronald A. Peiffer, the state's deputy superintendent for academic policy.

"I think it will be a great deal of extra work," said John E. Deasy, superintendent of Prince George's schools.

The board also approved a measure that would make it easier for students to earn a minimum combined score on all four tests that would meet the graduation requirement.

Previously, students could also earn a diploma by meeting a minimum combined score on all four tests, so long as they earned minimum scores in each exam as well. The board removed the requirement for a minimum score on individual tests.

Two to 3 percent of the students not passing the tests now would be affected by this rule change, Peiffer said.

Staff writer John Wagner contributed to this report.