Dropout rate up in first year of exit exams

The Associated Press has a report that says high school dropout rates in California were up 4 percent in 2006, the first year exit exams were required.

The firm that prepared the report, Human Resources Research Organization of Alexandria, Va., recommended that California explore other ways for high school seniors to demonstrate proficiency. In Massachusetts and Washington state, for example, students can be judged on a portfolio of their high school work.

Such an approach has been opposed by state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell.

The report’s findings validate the position of exit exam opponents who say the test is hardest on students who do not have access to good schools, said Liz Guillen, director of legislative and community affairs for Public Advocates.

Do you know what the dropout rate at your high school is? The California Department of Education has statistics on dropouts for each school district. You can see how rates compare by gender, age, ethnicity or grade level here.