STUDENTS SAIL THROUGH EXIT EXAM.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer

LANCASTER - At least 90 percent of seniors in the Antelope Valley Union High School District have passed the state high school exit exam required this year for the first time to earn a diploma.

Of 3,489 seniors, 94 percent have passed the English portion of the California High School Exit Exam, while 90.4 percent have passed the math section.

``Obviously we are very optimistic about the fact that 90 percent can pass. My concern is that gap - where are those students?'' said Brent Woodard, director of curriculum and instruction. ``Part of that 10 percent wouldn't graduate anyway because of lack of credits, senior project or other issues. Five percent will not pass only because of (the exit exam). That's a great concern. We don't want it to be a barrier.''

The class of 2006 is the first to be required to pass the exit exam in order to graduate.

Authorized by state lawmakers in 1999, the exit exam was originally to take effect in 2004. It was delayed until this year because of questions over whether students were adequately prepared and knew about the test.

In the Los Angeles Unified School District, nearly 20 percent of seniors have not yet passed the test, officials said.

High school students have six chances to pass the exam. They can it take once in their sophomore year, twice in their junior year and three times in their senior year.

Seniors who have not passed the exit exam yet can take the test for the last time on March 21 and 22.

In the event they do not pass, options are being weighed that would allow students more chances to get a diploma, including adult education, independent study, extra instruction including during the summer, or returning for a fifth year of high school.

``We have provided multiple opportunities for kids to go to tutoring specifically to work on (the exit exam). We even provide special classes for kids after, before and during school. Some kids have not taken advantage of that,'' Woodard said.

Because of legislation passed in January, special education students received a one-time exemption this year from the requirement under certain circumstances.

The exemption applies to students with disabilities who were identified to be on track for graduation in 2006, have an individual education plan, completed or are about to complete other graduation requirements, received tutoring, and have taken the exit exam at least twice after 10th grade, including once during their senior year.

Of the 210 students who have not passed the English portion of the exit exam, 50 at this point have sufficient credits and, assuming they complete other graduation requirements such as the senior project, are otherwise on track to graduate were it not for the exit exam.

Of the 335 who have not passed the math section, 94 are on track to graduate.

Of the district's 503 English-language learners who are seniors, 324, or 64 percent, have passed the English portion, and 320, or 63 percent, have passed the math.

Of the 166 English-learning students who have not passed the English portion, 51 are on track for graduation; of the 170 who have not passed math, 47 are on track to graduate.

Of 588 special education students, 210 have passed the English section, and 188 have passed the math.

Of the 378 special education students who have not passed the English, 102 are on track to graduate; of the 400 who have not passed math, 123 are on track to graduate.

Karen Maeshiro, [phone]

karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com