Gov. Davis’ academic plans receive legislative approval

Tuesday, February 16, 1999

Gov. Davis’ academic plans receive legislative approval

EDUCATION: High school exit exams, evaluations of teachers among
reforms

By Karla Y. Pleitez

Daily Bruin Contributor

The Senate Education Committee approved two of Gov. Gray Davis’
four proposals for education reform Wednesday.

Davis has made education his top priority. Five weeks ago when
he was sworn in, he called the Legislature into a special session
and asked lawmakers to pass his education reform bills by the end
of March.

The four proposals include mandatory exit tests for high school
graduates, peer reviews by teachers instead of the current mentor
teacher program, extended reading instruction and greater school
accountability.

The high school exit test bill was approved 9-0 by the Senate
Education Committee. The exit test proposal makes it mandatory for
high school seniors to pass a series of state exams in order to
graduate.

The tests will be on written composition, reading and
literature, first-year algebra, geometry and mathematics.

Educators say that the exams are a good idea, but question if
students will be well prepared.

"We definitely need to do something about allowing students who
do not know how to read graduate," said Concepcion Valadez, an
education professor at UCLA.

"But the problem with exit exams is that some schools may better
prepare students for test-taking skills, and other students who may
also have the knowledge and skills may not be as good at taking
exams," she said.

Those who agree with the proposal say that exit exams are the
best solution.

"We don’t want any more students to graduate without the
necessary skills to succeed, and by passing the exam, students will
demonstrate that they have learned the necessary skills to be
competitive in California," said Linda Chow, a press representative
for Davis.

The peer review bill also passed by a vote of 12-1. This bill
will change the mentor teachers’ duties, from aiding new teachers
to evaluating and helping permanent teachers.

Peer review requires performance goals by teachers to be in
writing, and it also multiple observations of a teacher during
periods of classroom instructions.

Some teachers say that this proposal will be stressful and
embarrassing.

"New teachers have a lot of pressure, and now you are adding
another component they must worry about," said Diane Nason, a
second-grade teacher at Noble Elementary.

"It is awful to think that we will constantly be watched and
monitored. How are we to concentrate on the children?" she
said.

Antonio Villaraigosa, the writer of the bill, says that it is
mostly about getting teachers to help one another and that the
focus should not be on the evaluation.

The least controversial bill, reading instruction, has not yet
been passed because the Legislature must still decide how much of
the education budget should go toward funding it.

The bill proposes that elementary schools dedicate
two-and-a-half hours to reading instruction every day. Also,
children who are behind would have to attend summer school to catch
up with their peers.

Many educators agree that the bill is essential.

"It is about time that we realize that we can most help kids
when they are still young," said Carlos Guzman, the bilingual
education coordinator for Sepulveda Middle School.

"Reading instruction summer school will help bilingual students
who have not yet mastered the English language," he said.

The last bill that Davis wants to pass is the bill of
accountability. This is a plan that would take into account student
test scores, attendance and graduation rates.

It is designed to help the worst schools improve.

The committee decided that the bill needs more work and will be
voted on again after revisions are made.

Only two of Davis education proposals have passed, but he is
still pleased that the Legislature has also made education a
priority.

"I am pleased these bills are preceding forward," said Davis in
a press release.

"(The bills) will put in place necessary education reforms to
provide California’s children with a better future," he said.

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