Enforce Graduation Standards

We offer best wishes to the Class of 1998, which this month sails off into a promising future. But as the experience of a handful of Fillmore high school seniors this year illustrates, rising graduation standards will make that diploma harder to earn in the years ahead--and school officials must resist the temptation to relax those standards when some students, inevitably, fail.

Following a statewide trend, many Ventura County high schools have adopted tougher graduation standards in recent years.

Santa Paula High School, for example, eliminated its “standard track” and this year began funneling every student into college-preparatory classes.

Fillmore school trustees went even further, voting last year to require a C average for graduation beginning with the Class of 2002. And beginning this year, Fillmore High seniors were allowed only two chances to pass state-mandated proficiency tests. In previous years, students were allowed to try up to six times.

School officials say tougher standards have not, as some had feared, forced marginal students to leave school. In fact, the county’s dropout rate declined again this year to a record low of 2.5%.

Those kinds of figures demonstrate that raising standards can keep students in school, education officials say.

But raising standards has not been painless. The first to feel the effects were eight seniors at Fillmore High who were unable this year to pass the state writing proficiency test after two tries.

The students appealed to trustees, arguing that the two-test limit was unfair. Other schools allow more chances, they contended.

School officials pointed out that the students had plenty of warning about the new policy and many chances to prepare. Not only does the district offer practice tests beginning in the fourth grade, it also provides tutoring to seniors.

But in the end, trustees agreed to grant the eight students a third chance--and last week, seven of those students passed the exam and earned their diplomas in time for graduation.

We’re happy that these students have finally crossed the finish line, but we urge school boards not to make a habit of granting such exceptions. Many students will work harder only if they know it is necessary--and they will know it is necessary only if they know the standards are firm.

If stricter graduation requirements are to mean anything, if they are to be effective in raising the quality of the education our schools provide, they must be enforced.