HSA passage not a certainty, school officials say

Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007

HSA passage not a certainty, school officials say

— Sean R. Sedam |

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ANNAPOLIS — It is not certain that high school students will be required to pass or receive a minimum combined score on four state tests in order to earn a diploma beginning in 2009, state education officials told delegates on Friday.

The state school board plans to review next year the state’s use of the High School Assessment tests as a graduation requirement.

‘‘The notion that this is in stone, that students are not going to graduate is not a true statement,” state schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick told a joint hearing of the House Ways and Means and Appropriations committees.

Grasmick’s statement comes as the state Senate is considering two bills aimed at the tests, which are given at the end of Algebra I, biology, 10th-grade English and government courses.

Also on Friday, a group of parents, educators and child advocates calling themselves the Maryland Coalition for Excellent Schools called on legislators to support a bill that would create a task force to study the policy and funding implications of requiring passage of the tests.

‘‘Setting a high standard, I believe in,” said Sen. Paul G. Pinsky (D-Dist. 22) of University Park. ‘‘The question is, is it the reasonable standard?”