The 66,000 members of the Class of 2009 will be the first to take the high school assessment test as a perquisite for receiving their diploma. Politicians and some educators embraced the idea.

After hearing critics’ concerns, state schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick proposed that students who fail the tests three times be allowed to do a senior project instead. Grasmick said it would be a rigorous assignment designed for only a few thousand students a year.

States realize that they have set standards that kids simply aren’t able to meet ... or the failure rates are simply too high politically,” said Jay Heubert, a professor at the Teachers College, Columbia University.

 

This article appeared in the October 8, 2007 edition of the Daily Times.