Santa Rosa School Board tweaks graduation policy

<p>After years of sometimes emotional debate, the Santa Rosa School Board on Wednesday agreed to let seniors who have met a series of district graduation requirements but failed to pass the state high school exit exam walk with their peers in graduation ceremonies.</p><p>The unanimous vote just before midnight Wednesday was greeted as a victory by proponents, who for years sought to allow students to participate even if they do not qualify for a diploma. </p><p>Since 2006, state law has required students to pass the California High School Exit Exam before earning a diploma. Santa Rosa was the only district in Sonoma County that did not allow seniors to walk on graduation day if they met district requirements but failed the state test. </p><p>“I think it's a victory to just allow them to walk,” said Alicia Roman, who spoke in favor of granting eligible seniors the right. “It gives them that push, that self-esteem to continue to move forward with their education.”</p><p>Board members, who for years have opposed altering the policy, agreed unanimously on Wednesday to make the change.</p><p>“I think there is a reasonable argument being made for celebrating having finished high school with one's family,” board president Bill Carle said Thursday. </p><p>But Carle and three other board members rejected a proposal to issue those same students a certificate of coursework completion, which would acknowledge a student had fulfilled the district's graduation requirements without passing the exit exam.</p><p>Board members expressed concern students would be less motivated to earn a diploma if the district provided an alternative certificate of completion.</p><p>“I really don't like the term ‘certificate of completion' because it's not complete, they haven't completed what is required by the state,” board member Donna Jeye said Wednesday. “It's not just all about this test.”</p><p>Of the district's 1,812 seniors, about 1,700 have passed the exam. Among the seniors on track to graduate but failed to pass the exit exam, 28 are deemed English-language learners, 26 special education students and eight general education students.</p><p>Special education students can walk at graduation if they complete their individual education plan, which may or may not include passing the exam.</p><p>Board members on Wednesday agreed that students who meet a slate of criteria — including multiple attempts at the exit exam, enrollment in support classes and completion of other unit requirements — will also be eligible to receive a letter enabling some qualified students to pay in-state fees for junior college classes.</p><p>The difference between in-state fees and out-of-state fees is nearly $200 per unit.</p><p>Students who have a high school diploma or a certificate of completion are eligible for the lower rates. The district letter approved Wednesday night will also satisfy the requirement, Carle said.</p><p>Holly Jaramillo, whose son attended Santa Rosa High, said the letter is important because it removes a financial burden for students to continue their education.</p><p>“They can avail themselves to really terrific tutoring programs at the JC for free,” she said. “It's a really important resource. The board did the right thing and they removed that obstacle.”</p><p>But former board member Jere Jacobs expressed concern that the authenticity of graduation ceremonies will be marred if some participants have not fulfilled the requirements for a diploma.</p><p>“I tend to be a little traditional, but when you walk across the stage to get a high school diploma, this is not a social event. This is supposed to be the culmination of academic preparation for the commencement of the rest of your life,” he said. </p><p>Jacobs, who does not oppose issuing a certificate of completion and credited the district for increasing its graduation rates for all students, suggested to the board Wednesday night that commencement ceremonies be renamed celebration events.</p><p>“I'm not going to let the community fool itself that this is 100 percent a graduation ceremony,” he said.</p><p>Board members voted on Wednesday to loosen restrictions on graduation ceremonies for three years, after which the board can examine graduation rates and the percentage of students who continue to pursue their diploma after participating in graduation.</p><p>“If we see our graduation rates start to drop then I think we have problem and think we have to address that,” Pugh said Wednesday.</p>