SUMMER TUTORING PROGRAM PLANNED STUDENTS TO GAIN HELP IN PASSING EXIT EXAM.

Byline: Helen Gao Staff Writer

GLENDALE - With the high school exit exam due to become a graduation requirement in two years, Glendale school officials plan to launch a tutoring program this summer to help struggling students pass the test.

Of about 2,500 students who took the test for the first time last year, 24 percent, or 600, failed the language arts portion and 43 percent, or 1,061, failed the math component, officials said.

``(The passing rate) is higher than the state and county average by quite a bit, but not, of course, as high as we would like. Our goal is to have nearly 100 percent of the students pass the test the first time,'' said Terry Dutton, director of assessment and evaluation for the Glendale Unified School District.

The school district does not yet have the results of this year's exit exam, which was taken earlier this month by 1,350 students.

A cornerstone of the accountability movement, the exit exam is intended to ensure that high school graduates who receive a diploma have met statewide achievement standards.

To pass the two-part test, students must score 60 percent on the English- language arts section, which includes two essays, and 55 percent on the mathematics section, which covers up to algebra I.

Linda Evans, co-principal at Crescenta Valley High School, said officials will tailor summer school math and English classes based on the this year's exam results.

``What we try to do is structure a program to support students in the areas they need support,'' she said.

``We don't want them to feel a sense of despair. They have plenty of time to master the standards, and we have plenty of time to work with them.''

As part of the program, Evans said students will also practice test-taking to help reduce their anxiety level and familiarize them with the exit exam format.

``We take whatever has been officially released by the state and use that to help the teachers and students better understand this test,'' she said.

Because this year's exam results are still pending, school officials don't know how many students will participate in the summer program.

They expect some students who failed the test the first year would have passed the test this year because of intervention programs.

Michael Seaton, director of instructional support services for the district, said the program is not mandatory for failing students, but it is strongly recommended.

``It's not mandatory in the sense that there is a punishment if you don't do it,'' he said. ``but parents have been sent a letter saying that their students have not successfully passed one or more sections of the high school exit exam.''

Seaton said district officials sent the letters out as early as September so that parents don't make vacation plans that interfere with summer school.

Evans said because of the high stakes the exit exam holds, both teachers and students are determined to succeed.