Bills Seek New Kind of Graduation Requirement

A Prince George's lawmaker has introduced legislation to prohibit the use of standardized tests as public high school graduation requirements in Maryland, arguing that the High School Assessment tests could unfairly deny diplomas to deserving students.

Beginning with the Class of 2009, the Maryland Board of Education will require students to pass a series of curriculum-based exams in algebra, biology, English and government to earn a high school diploma. Students unable to pass the tests could complete projects in those subjects as an alternative.

But legislation introduced by Del. Jay Walker (D-Prince George's) would eliminate the assessment tests as graduation requirements. A second bill introduced by Walker would weigh students' scores on the standardized tests with their attendance record and grade-point average in determining eligibility to receive a diploma.

Walker said standardized tests carry too much weight in education policy.

"If we allow this to affect even one class of students, the Class of 2009, then we as leaders are letting our kids down," Walker said.

He warned that the negative impact of making the assessment tests a graduation requirement probably would be felt more acutely in Prince George's, which has one of the lowest-performing school districts in the state.

"We judge school systems on how they do on the test," Walker said. "Why is Montgomery County a good school system? They do well on the test. Why is Prince George's County a bad school system? They do bad on the test. Everything is test, test, test."

State education officials stand by their decision to include the High School Assessment tests in graduation requirements and oppose Walker's bills.

Bill Reinhard, a spokesman for the Department of Education, said the tests have been heavily researched and cover subject areas that are crucial for students to master.

"These are English, biology, algebra and government. They are bedrock subjects that all students should know and understand," Reinhard said. "For students to be successful in life, they need to know these."

Reinhard said students struggling to pass the tests are identified by their school and given extra help.

"We need to know when students are having trouble with these areas," Reinhard said. "We don't really serve students well by passing them along when they haven't learned basic skills."

It is unclear how much support Walker will be able to find in the General Assembly for his bill to eliminate the assessment tests as a graduation requirement.

But his bill to create a weighted numerical system reflecting multiple measures of performance appears to be gaining broad support. Under that proposal, test scores would make up between 50 and 60 percent of the score used to determine diploma eligibility; attendance would account for 10 to 20 percent; and grade-point average would make up the remainder.

For this bill, Walker has 55 co-sponsors, including House Majority Leader Kumar P. Barve (D-Montgomery) and House Majority Whip Talmadge Branch (D-Baltimore), as well as some Republicans. The Legislative Black Caucus voted to back the bill.

Before reaching the House floor, the bill will be considered by the House Ways and Means Committee, where at least 11 of the 22 members are listed as co-sponsors.