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Dozens of parents came to a meeting at Dr. Henry A. Wise Jr. High School in Upper Marlboro on Dec. 18 for answers to a single question—whether their child will graduate in 2009.
The meeting, organized by Prince George's County Public Schools and Parent Teacher Association members for schools in southern parts of the county, was organized in response to confusion about state High School Assessment tests, which, beginning this year, high school seniors need to pass in order to graduate.
Kathy Richard-Andrews, director of school services for the county, gave a brief presentation about the new requirements and outlined options for parents of seniors who are struggling with the tests, after which staff members from 12 south county schools gave parents their children's HSA test scores at tables set up for each local school.
Richard-Andrews stressed the importance of students taking all four tests—Biology, Algebra, Government and English—every time they are offered, noting that students' performances tend to improve with repeated testing.
"I really need everybody in here to be good soldiers and help spread the word," she said in her lecture. "Students need to sit for the exams every time they are offered."
In order to graduate, seniors need to pass all four exams or earn a combined score of 1602 points. The passing score for individual tests is 412 for algebra, 400 for biology, 396 for English and 394 for government. The highest possible score for each test is 600, totaling 2400 points.
Students who take all four exams but fail to earn 1602 points on two separate occasions become eligible for the school system's bridge program, where they can fulfill their testing requirements by completing one or more project. With the academic year halfway over, Richard-Andrews urged parents to get their children to enroll in that program, or to enroll them in the school system's extended learning program, where students can participate in free after-school test preparation courses.
Out of more than 6,000 seniors who have taken the HSAs in all four categories, more than 23 percent have not passed, according to November figures from the school system's testing department. Forty-two percent of seniors who have not met the testing requirement have not taken all four tests, and 181 students—6.5 percent who have not met the requirement— have not taken any of the tests, the figures show.
Rhonda Chandler, the PTA president for Suitland High School, said during the presentation that she wished more parents came to the event.
"We wish the room was packed," said Chandler, who helped organize the event. "I think south county has a big problem—We don't show up when a crisis is a crisis."
Some of the attendees said they had been confused about the testing requirements. Cory Baskerville of Temple Hills, who runs the Temple Hills-based nonprofit Young Men and Women Empowerment, came on behalf of one of his program's participants, a junior at Henry A. Wise.
"He's struggling. He's struggling with it," said Baskerville, who said his mentee scored 1,100 on the tests. "The HSA is a lot for him to deal with," especially in addition to regular coursework and studying for the SATs, he said.
Baskerville said he and his mentee were not aware until September that passing the HSA is now mandatory for graduation and blamed what he called a lack of communication from the school system.
Earl O'Neal, the PTA president for Friendly High School in Fort Washington, acknowledged that many parents are confused about the new requirements but said it is becoming increasingly urgent they become involved.
"[Parents] might have questions, but the fact is that if their kid doesn't pass the test, they aren't walking across the stage" at graduation, he said.
Other parents said they appreciate the school system's efforts. Clinton resident Denise Jordan, whose daughter is a senior at Henry A. Wise, said she understands the testing requirement better after coming to the session.
"I think it's more clear when you actually come out and hear from the staff," she said. "There's maybe some confusion, but this meeting I think made it more clear."
The HSAs will be available again in June and April, Richard-Andrews said. There will be a similar session Jan. 7 for parents with schools in northern parts of the county at Northwestern High School in Hyattsville.
Maryland's High School Assessment tests
-In order to graduate, seniors need to pass all four exams (Biology, Algebra, Government and English) or earn a combined score of 1602 points out of 2400.
-Out of more than 6,000 seniors who have taken the HSAs in all four categories, more than 23 percent have not passed. Forty-two percent of seniors who have not met the testing requirement have not taken all four tests, and 181 students—6.5 percent who have not met the requirement— have not taken any of the tests.