When the word spread a few years ago that beginning with the Class of 2010 NevadaÕs students would have to pass a science proficiency test to earn a high school diploma, cynics predicted the graduation rate would plummet in Clark County.
But this yearÕs seniors appear to have held their own. The district expects the graduation rate to be close to last yearÕs 68 percent, even with the tougher hurdles.
Statewide, students are doing better on the science proficiency exam than anticipated when the test was introduced three years ago, said Keith Rheault, NevadaÕs superintendent of public instruction.
ÒWe saw a decent pass rate when we first tested the kids as sophomores, and itÕs carried over into their junior and senior years,Ó Rheault said. ÒWe put out the word early that the new test was coming, and gave the districts enough lead time to prepare.Ó
Students who complete the required course work but do not pass all sections of the exam by their senior year receive an attendance certificate instead of a diploma.
A seniors-only round of testing is offered in May, for students who have yet to pass all sections of the exam.
This month, 2,013 Clark County high school seniors who had failed the science exam tried again, and more than half of them still fell short.
Seniors are allowed to take a final crack at the exam — albeit after commencement festivities have come and gone. If they pass the July test, seniors can trade in their certificates for diplomas from their high schools and they will count toward the districtÕs overall graduation rate.
After that, they can try again at a later date, but will be considered Adult Education students, rather than members of the Class of 2010.
The first-time pass rate for sophomores who took the science proficiency exam in 2009 was 58 percent. Data for this yearÕs sophomores, who took a more rigorous version of the test than last yearÕs class, are not yet available.
Although Ò58 percent isnÕt anything to be proud of,Ó it is better than what had been predicted, said Brenda Larsen-Mitchell, the districtÕs executive director of curriculum. And the district intends to follow an aggressive blueprint to boost the first-time pass rate, similar to the approach used to improve test scores on the math section of the exam, Larsen-Mitchell said.
One change was to ramp up the science curriculum. About 75 percent of high school freshmen are enrolled in the Òprinciples of scienceÓ class, which covers about 70 percent of the new examÕs content. And this year the district added a review class specifically for seniors who have not passed the science proficiency exam.
The district also added more professional development for elementary, middle and high school science teachers, focusing on lab activities, curriculum and preparing students for the proficiency tests. The graduation requirements were increased to include a third year of science (along with a fourth year of mathematics).
In 2007, the district increased instructional time for science classes at the middle school level. To make room during the academic day for seventh-graders, the district allowed middle schools to reduce — and in some cases, eliminate — a required physical education class.
To Silverado High School Principal Kim Grytdahl, thatÕs an unfortunate trade-off.
Given the epidemic of childhood obesity, and that many teens donÕt get enough exercise, he thinks students would be better off if physical activity were a daily requirement. But he also knows the additional science instruction is helping to prepare students for the academic challenges of high school.
ÒThe reality is the school day just isnÕt long enough,Ó Grytdahl said. ÒIf weÕre going to raise the expectations for students, we need more time.Ó
But time is expensive. For schools to add another class period to the academic day would costs hundreds of millions of dollars that the state doesnÕt have, Rheault said.
ÒI was unhappy that schools had to give up PE to make room for science, although I certainly understand why they did it,Ó Rheault said. ÒBut I also believe that physical activity during the day can help students work off some of their restless energy, and theyÕll actually do better in all their classes.Ó
Rod Miller, in his 15th year teaching in the district, says the science proficiency review class at Silverado High School offered him a new challenge: reviewing years of material in one semester. Miller found that many of his students struggled with the earth sciences, in part because those were topics they hadnÕt revisited since middle school.
Since the science proficiency exam was added, Miller said he has reshaped some of his instructional methods, spending more time with straightforward lectures and question-and-answer sessions. The students seem to retain more material with that approach, Miller said.
For Justin Tate, a Silverado senior in MillerÕs class, not being able to pass the science proficiency exam went beyond frustration.
As a result of the setbacks, ÒI lost some of my confidence,Ó said Tate, who recently passed the science section and is hoping for a career in law enforcement. ÒI thought I was good student, but it seemed like all this work I was doing in class didnÕt matter. I kind of felt like a failure.Ó
Leslie Felker, also a Silverado senior in MillerÕs class, will have to take another shot at the science proficiency exam in July after falling short of the mark in May. She believes the exam should be required, even though sheÕs Òa little upsetÓ that she hasnÕt yet passed.
ÒYou have to know all your subjects, not just the ones you like,Ó said Felker, who plans to attend Nevada State College and become a teacher. ÒIÕm glad I get another chance to try again.Ó emily@lasvegassun.com /259-8829
WOULD YOU PASS?
HereÕs a few questions from past
versions of the Nevada State High
School Proficiency Exam for science:
1. Plants are unable to move to a new location in response to changes in their environment. Which of the following organelles plays a role in maintaining homeostasis in a plant?
a) Cell wall
b) Chloroplast
c) Vacuole
d) Nucleus
2. Stellar black holes are remnants of very high-mass stars. These black holes will:
a) Pull in matter from distant star systems with their huge gravitational attraction.
b) Periodically explode and contract as matter is pulled into the black hole.
c) Capture light that comes within its small (few kilometers-wide) event horizon.
d) Form wormholes that allow
matter to travel great distances in
a short time.
3. Atomic mass on the periodic table
progressively changes left to right and top to bottom because:
a) A proton is being lost.
b) An electron is being lost.
c) A proton is being added.
d) An electron is being added.
4. What is inertia?
a) The force required to change the motion of an object.
b) The energy required to change the motion of an object.
c) The resistance to changes in motion of an object.
d) The momentum of an object in motion.
Answer to all questions is C
UNFORTUNATE TRADE-OFF
Silverado High School Principal Kim Grytdahl says the decision to eliminate a physical education requirement in favor of extra classes is science may not be the best idea given the growing number of obese teenagers. But, he says he knows the extra science instruction is helping more students pass the proficiency exam.
Copyright 2010 Las Vegas Sun
