Panel: ‘Career’ students face test

• By WILL SENTELL
• Advocate Capitol News Bureau
• Published: Nov 10, 2009 - Page: 8A

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Public high school students who pursue a “career diploma” should be required to pass the same exit exam as other students, a key education advisory panel said Monday.

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is expected to endorse the recommendation, probably next month.

That would resolve one of the final issues surrounding the new diploma, which has triggered controversy since it was approved by the Legislature earlier this year.

The diploma is for students who pursue a curriculum that emphasizes career and technical classes. It is supposed to prepare them for a job or a technical or community school.

The High School Redesign Commission voted 23-2 to require students to pass the same end-of-course tests that other students have to clear to earn a traditional diploma.

That means they will have to earn passing marks in Algebra I or geometry; English 2 or English 3 and biology or American history.

“Making it on par (with others) gives credibility to a career diploma itself,” state Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said.

The other option would be for “career diploma” students to pass end-of-course tests in English, math, science and social studies. That was proposed by another member of the commission.

Pastorek said requiring “career diploma” students to pass four subjects instead of three could cause problems with federal education rules.

A majority of public school superintendents favor imposing the same end-of-course tests for students pursuing career diplomas as others, said Randy Pope, who represented the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents.

Career diplomas, which won lopsided legislative approval, have triggered arguments for months.

Backers say they will help keep students engaged in high school who might otherwise become dropouts.

Critics say the plan is flawed, mostly because it