Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 5 October 2001 — Page 2
PAGE A2
THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5,2001
ISTEPfor 10th graders more intense
At Coors, we believe that in order to create a "winning" culture, you must surround yourself with "winners". That's why Coors is committed to investing in people who are dedicated to achieving success. Because when you find people that embody the strength and the passion tfisg^eed^ou are destined to lead the way into tomorrow.
(From let! to right) Crystal Adams Asst Corporate Relations Manager; Everett Oliver Manager Logistics Dennis Maple Area Vice President: Charles Bennett National Sales Manager Anmta Menogan. Asst General Counsel; Joyce Shelby.
Market Development Asst Leon Gibson Purchasing Protect Manager 2000 Goofs Brewing Company Golden. CO 80401 Brewer of Fine Quality Beer Since 1873
&
By OSEYE T. BOYD Staff Writer While many students may suffer from test anxiety, the anxiety of Indiana's 10th graders may be more profound. What these students do in 10th grade could determine their fate in two years. The Graduation Qualifying Exam determines if a student has mastered skills from Indiana academic standards up to grade nine. While all students must take the GQE, failure of the test does not exempt a student from graduation. Instead the Indiana Department of Education allows students a variety of ways to meet the requirement. The test was administered statewide Sept. 11-13. “The Graduation Qualifying Exam is first given to sophomores,” Mary Tiede Wilhemus, communications director for the Indiana Department of Education, said. “You do have an opportunity if you don’t pass the test, to take it again in your junior and seniors years ; — twice. If they pass the math portion, that’s their prize to keep. They don’t ever have to take that part of the test again.” “You don’t have to pass the test to graduate,” said director of division of school assessment Wes Bruce. “That’s what everybody’s thinking, and that’s what most kids do, but you don’t have to pass the test. The law recognizes that some students don’t test well, and there are other ways to demonstrate your mastery of the skills.” Students who don’t pass the test must also take remediation classes; maintain a high school attendance rate of 95 percent; maintain a “C” average in the classes needed for graduation, and obtain written recommendation supporting the request for appeal from teachers in subject areas in which the student has not achieved a passing score. Even students who pass the GQE must complete all state and local requirements for graduation. “Fifty-nine percent of the kids statewide the first time they took it — passed it—both parts of the test last year. (Only) 1,032 students out
How to meet Indiana Academic
Standard for graduation
1. Achieve a passing score in English and mathematics on the Graduation Qualifying Exam (GQE). 2. Meet all of the following: • Take the GQE in each subject area in which the student did not achieve a passing grade at least one time every school year after the school year in which the student first takes the GQE. • Complete remediation opportunities provided by the student’s school. • Maintain a school attendance rate of at least 95 percent with excused absences not counted against the student’s attendance. • Maintain at least a “C” average or the equivalent in the courses comprising the credits specifically required for graduation by rule of the State Board of Education (8 credits in English, 4 in social studies, 4 in mathematics, 4 in science, 1 in health and 1 in physical education).
•Ill •Vi
• Obtain a written recommen j 'u dation from a teacher of the stu- i! dent in each subject area in which the student has not achieved a." passing score. The recommen-v dation must: (A) be concurred with by the M principal of the student’s school; i^\ and • h (B) be supported by docu- “ mentation that the student has.' 1 attained Grade 9 proficiency in r ; the subject area based upon: — tests other than the gradu-".I ation examination; or — classroom work 3. Complete all components. - of the Core 40 curriculum with a.; 1 ; grade of “C” or higher in all *! required and directed elective course. In addition to meeting thevl GQE academic standard, a student must satisfy all state and. local graduation requirements.:. i Source: Indiana Department of.' Education 'V
of the class of 16,000 in the class of 2000 got a waiver — kids who didn’t pass the test, but were able to show their ninth-grade skills,” Bruce said. Wilhemus said there could be several reasons why students don ’ t pass the test. Some students “just blow it off,” or they may come to school and take part of the test, while some students may miss the test completely. “But there’s a lot of other factors that are outside of the schools control, obviously, that account for part of the low test scores,” Wilhemus said. “Part of it is motivation at the high school level, although the class of 2000 was the first class that had to meet the Graduation Qualifying Exam in order to be eligible for a high school diploma. So for the most part, high school students understand now that that’s an expectation placed on them.” Wilhemus does not place the
blame solely on Indiana’s students when it comes to the GQE. She readily admits many students are not prepared for high school and instead of remaining in a grade* students are passed in what’s called “social promotion.” “What we do find is that we have had a lot of social promotion where retention was viewed as a very bad thing and so it put kids who had second grade reading skills who might be in fifth or sixth grade. Well, if you can’t read at grade level, how can you learn your English, your math, your science and your social studies. You can’t keep up,” she said. The Department of Education tries to make all incoming sophd'mores aware of the ways to meet graduation requirements. A panP phlet is sent to the home of all sophomore students. Teachers and schools have posters explaining the ways to meet the requirement. ..i'j
.J' 1 -:
INDIANAPOLIS FAMILIES COUNT AWARDS
Children do well when their families do well
J r amilies do better when they live in communities that support them. Do you know an organization that helps make Marion County families stronger?
“1,000 ‘
Nominate it to receive a Families Count Award of up to $5,000 for its good work.
:
HDMHMM*
mmmhMMMM
are seeking nominations of schools or school-based programs, neighborhood-based organizations, community or family centers, faith-based organizations, and small businesses. Organizations must be located and serve Marion County.* An organization must help the whole family, not just one or two family members. It must also connect families to services, activities or other people that can make it stronger. Examples include: / Connecting families to economic (>|>|>ortunitics. such as: secure jobs with a good income, job training, education, transportation to work, home ownership, starting a small business. / Connecting families to each other or to the community by: helping families get to know and support each other, helping families liecome involved in a neighborhood association or community service project, or providing a place where families can receive support and be together. / Connecting families to accessible, altonluhle and culturally-relevant services such as: food, housing, transportation, clothing, legal help, child care, adult care, medical care. TAKE S MINUTES. Complete and return the form no later than OCTOBER 9, 2001. The Families Count Awanls Working Group will choose the winners who will receive awards during the Family Strengthening Summit, November 17. 2001, at the Indiana Convention Center. The Summit kicks off National Families Week (Novcmlier 18-24, 2001) and is free, open to the public, and will have activities for family members of all ages. All families that send in a nomination form will be invited to the Awanls Ceremony and listed in the Awards Ceremony program.
Sponsor
fty///</(
*lf an organiaition does not fit in one of those categories, it is not eligible for an au anl this year. Employees or board members cannot submit
2001 INDIANAPOLIS FAMILIES COUNT AWARDS NOMINATION FORM
Your Name. Your Address.
Your Daytime Phone. Your Email (if available).. Organization Nominated. Organization Address .i,..
Organization Phone Number. Type of Organization - check one: □ School or School-Based Program □ Neighborhood-Based □ Faith-Based □ Community or Family Center □ Small Business How did you hear about the awards?
How do you know about the organization you nominated?
What does the organization do to make families stronger? BE VERY SPECIFIC AND GIVE EXAMPLES OF THE KIND OF HELP THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES.