Days away from graduation, hundreds of Maryland seniors have not completed statewide tests proving basic skills.
The class of 2009 is the first required to pass the exams, called High School Assessments, or complete a supplementary project before receiving a diploma. They cover four subjects: algebra, government, biology and English.
Overall, 1,460 Maryland seniors, or about 3 percent, had not completed the requirements by May 15.
Prince George’s County had 613 students lacking HSA requirements as of May 15. That is 42 percent of the state total. At a Wednesday meeting of the state’s Board of Education, however, district officials said that number has gone down by about 150 students in the second half of the month.
In Montgomery County, 100 students hadn’t passed the tests or completed a project by mid-May, accounting for about 7 percent of the total, according to the state data.
Frederick, Howard and Anne Arundel counties combined for a total of 96 students. Baltimore City, with 543 students, led the state per capita with 13 percent of its seniors not eligible for graduation.
Seniors still have opportunities to earn their diploma, though it may not come in time for next week’s graduation ceremonies.
“Never say never,” said state schools spokesman Bill Reinhard. “These are kids who are interested in graduating; they have not been skipping school, they are expecting a diploma.”
Reinhard commended superintendents who have set up summer programs to give students extra time to pass. He brushed aside criticism from districts like Montgomery County that have complained the tests add work for schools and teachers without adding value to diplomas — especially those students graduating from the state’s better schools.
“In the past we’ve had a lot of different graduation standards across the state,” he said. “Now we have a consistent floor, and it will make building on it that much easier.”
Reinhard stressed the tests are not meant to keep students from graduating, but to ensure that before they graduate, they know basic skills.
Several hundred students have received a waiver for the requirements for uncommon circumstances like extreme family disruption, or moving to the state during high school and without English language skills.
