Reasonable approach to HSAs

It is not unreasonable to expect students to understand basic math, science, government and English before they leave high school. Without such expectations, we run the risk of handing diplomas to students who are ill-prepared for life’s journey.

As it stands now, two out of every three high school graduates who enter the community college system need remedial help. That means those students must re-take classes — and pay college tuition — in core subject matter they should have learned while in high school.

Most Maryland residents want a high school diploma to mean something. Certainly, most employers do. Eighty-five percent of Marylanders surveyed in December said they think high school students should have to take and pass tests in subjects like English and math in order to graduate.

The HSAs have been in development for 14 years, with the direct involvement of those in the best position to know what Maryland students are capable of — teachers and principals; supervisors of curriculum, instruction and testing; college faculty; business leaders; and parents.

I agree with all those who helped develop these tests and all those who have seen the majority of their students pass them: These tests are a reasonable gauge of what students should know and be able to do by the time they graduate.

There was bound to be concern. Some lawmakers want to take yet another look at the tests, fearing that some students will have special difficulty with the exams.

Fear like that is understandable, but it duplicates what the Maryland State Board of Education has done and will continue to do. State board members are reviewing HSA data each month, and information from this year’s administration will be analyzed in detail later this summer.

State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick has indicated an interest in delaying the assessment requirement for groups of students with special needs and those who are English language learners, and that is a sensible approach at this point.

Finally, under state regulations, the state board will review the HSA program in detail in 2008 before proceeding with the requirements. The 2007 results and 2008 review should give the state board enough evidence upon which to base a sound decision on the direction the HSA program should take.

Kathy Snyder is president and CEO of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, based in Annapolis.