Almost 3,000 N.J. students are not allowed to graduate after failing alternate exit exam
Published: Wednesday, July 07, 2010, 8:50 AM Updated: Wednesday, July 07, 2010, 8:58 AM
What Martinez does not have, however, is a diploma.
Though she was allowed to participate in the ceremony, Martinez is one of about 2,900 New Jersey high school seniors who did not graduate last month because they did not pass the state’s alternate high school exit exam, known as the Alternate High School Assessment.
The state Department of Education changed the exam this year and what was once a test nearly everyone passed became a high hurdle to graduation for many. Students in about 65 districts were affected, including Paterson, Jersey City, New Brunswick, East Orange, Newark and Union City, according to the education department.
The changes sent high schools scrambling to help high school seniors find other ways to prove they are worthy of a diploma, and it touched off renewed debate about high-stakes tests.
"It’s so complicated. I passed all of my classes. I want to graduate," said Martinez, 18. "I would like to go on."
The Department of Education retooled the alternate exit exam this year, changing how it is given
N.J. audit finds Lakewood school district kept poor records, routinely overspent
By The Star-Ledger Continuous News Desk
July 06, 2010, 10:15AM
LAKEWOOD — A state audit found that the Lakewood school district kept poor records between 2006 and 2008 and had shoddy oversight of officials, resulting in routine overspending of accounts, under-budgeting, and other examples of wasted spending, a report on APP.com said. The audit found that the district spent $2.5 million more on salaries than what was budgeted, and... Full story »
N.J. school districts avoid cuts in special education in budget crisis
By Dan Goldberg/For The Star-Ledger
July 06, 2010, 6:02AM
Officials say growing demands of programs force slicing into general education Full story »
Diminishing state aid prompts Glen Ridge officials to consider converting schools to private, charter
By Philip Read/The Star-Ledger
July 04, 2010, 8:30AM
GLEN RIDGE — Faced with burdensome mandates and diminishing returns from Trenton, one of the state’s top public school districts is considering a path that could make it the first to effectively secede from New Jersey’s public education system. The Glen Ridge school board will enter largely uncharted waters when it gathers at a retreat this month to discuss... Full story »