Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell says another 4,500 seniors in the Class of 2006 have passed the controversial high school exit exam. That means they can graduate with their class. Still, nearly one in ten seniors still hasn't passed the basic math and English test requirement. O'Connell says many factors may be contributing to the failure rate.
O'Connell: The factors that would be contributing to the ten percent are probably students that recently arrived here and are just learning the English language. Some students just haven't been motivated for various reasons, some of which are societal. Some might have to work outside the school hours and have not had the time to focus on preparation.
Nearly two-thirds of those who have yet to pass are Hispanic. And O'Connell says black students and those from poor families are also falling behind their white peers.
