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Students who were unable to pass test to graduate in spring get chance for traditional ceremony now
By John Higgins
Beacon Journal staff writer
Published on Saturday, Sep 19, 2009
Thirty-four Akron high school seniors who had enough credits to graduate last spring but failed the Ohio Graduation Test have passed the test this summer and earned their diplomas.
For the first time in Akron, those graduates also received a traditional graduation ceremony, held Thursday night, with caps and gowns, a speech by the superintendent, congratulatory handshakes from their high school principal and the applause of their proud families in the audience.
Some of those 34 ''summer graduates'' already have moved on, but 21 walked the stage Thursday night at the former Central-Hower High School, now the temporary home of East High.
Last spring, 54 seniors at Akron's seven traditional high schools had enough credits to graduate, but did not cross the stage because they had failed one or more of the graduation tests.
The test measures knowledge at the 10th-grade level in five areas: reading, writing, mathematics, science and social studies. The graduating class of 2007 was the first required to pass the tests before receiving diplomas.
Students have seven chances to pass all five tests before their graduation date, but they also can sign up for extra help the summer after their graduation date and take the test again in time to enroll in college in the fall.
Akron school board President James Hardy knows what they feel like, because it happened to a close friend who should have graduated from Firestone with Hardy in the spring of 2002.
But his friend didn't pass the math portion of the Ohio Proficiency Test (which the Ohio Graduation Test replaced) and had to try again in the summer.
''He didn't walk the stage with us, which was devastating,'' Hardy said.
His friend did pass the math test that summer and went on to earn a college degree, but all he had to show for his high school years was a letter in the mail indicating he officially had graduated.
Hardy said that he, the board's vice president, the Rev. Curtis T. Walker Sr., and Superintendent David James decided that this year, the district would hold a traditional ceremony for the summer graduates.
''I'm always excited about a graduation, but this one has a special place in my heart,'' Hardy said.
Education reforms in the two-year state budget passed this summer include replacing the test with the ACT and other measures.
Hardy welcomes the change, but he expects it will take several years to establish the new testing process.
John Higgins can be reached at 330-996-3792 or jhiggins@thebeaconjournal.com.
Thirty-four Akron high school seniors who had enough credits to graduate last spring but failed the Ohio Graduation Test have passed the test this summer and earned their diplomas.
Get the full article here.
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