A new Public Policy Institute report finds fourth-grade students who are struggling academically are more likely to fail California's High School Exit Exam . KPBS Reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
The report analyzed the passing rates of San Diego Unified high school seniors on the state's test. Researchers also looked at their report cards and test scores going back to the fourth grade.
They found the teens who failed the exit exam had poor grades and bad behavior as early as the fourth grade.
Co-author Julian Betts says kids who followed directions, behaved well among their peers, and displayed self-discipline ended-up doing well on the exam.
Betts: Student behavior in grade four really does seem to predict how well people will do years later when they get into high school and are confronted by this exit exam.
Betts says teachers need to identify and focus on struggling kids early on so the students will perform better once they get into high school.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
