“Local seniors in danger of failing”
Tougher requirements mean many won’t get High School Diploma
Kathy Mickey, The Journal News, 2000.

Three-fifths of the local high school seniors who have yet to pass the Regents English exam are in danger of failing to graduate even if they pass the test.
Of the 807 seniors still facing the exam in Westchester Rockland and Putnam, 487 are unlikely to get diplomas any way in four months, according to a report released recently by the state Department of Education. The figures do not include special-education students.

The seniors failed too many courses, cut too many classes and lacked enough credits to graduate on time, say educators who are concerned that frustrated students facing harder graduation requirements may drop out and become part of society’s economic underclass.

“There always will be a small percentage of students who will not be able to do what we’re asking of them. What will happen to them?” asked Mil Bauerlein, president of the Mahopac Parents Association. “We have to do whatever we can to make sure every kid graduates.”

Of the nine Mahopac seniors who probably won’t graduate, three or four left school because they would have had to stay two or three more years to earn enough graduation credits, Schools Superintendent Joseph Sabatella said.

Statistically, the numbers of such students are small and consistent with past years. But they are having a significant impact because next year, the state will begin grading districts on how many students graduated and how well students did on state-mandated exams.

Of the 48 local districts in the report, 21 had no seniors in danger of failing to graduate in June. In 17 of the Districts, at least half the students who have yet to pass the Regents English probably wouldn’t graduate anyway.

The state had no statistics for Bronxville, Eastchester or Mount Pleasant, and statewide statistics were unavailable.

Yonkers, the largest local district, reported the most seniors-200 - who are in danger of failing to graduate even if they pass the Regents.

Mahopac’s nine students represent the most of any district in Putnam; and North Rockland’s 56 students represent the most in a Rockland district.

In the past, many of these students would graduate after taking the less-difficult Regents Competency Test, but that has been phased out. Some will graduate after making up courses in summer school; others will return in September for an additional semester or a fifth year. Still others will quit, perhaps earn a graduate equivalency diploma.

Meanwhile school districts are scrambling to put programs in place to help students not only pass the Regents, but also graduate on time. Most districts have a long- range view, with programs targeting elementary and middle school children to catch problems early.

In East Ramapo, for example, where 50 of the 75 seniors who haven’t passed the test probably won’t graduate in June, the district has begun testing to diagnose problems in third through 10th grades and has set said aside time each week ti improve teachers’ skills.

“We’re planning on tracking our students from the beginning,” district spokesman Bary Goldberg said.

The idea is to have educational programs tailored to specific students.

“This is individualized education with teeth,” said Dudley Hare, director of the Westchester Education Coalition.

Most Districts have introduced programs to identify struggling students and to get them help in before- and after school tutoring, summer school, Saturday tutorials and extra periods of core academic subjects.

Mahopac Middle school, which already provides a one-hour after- school program added a second program in English and Math yesterday. The 12 Week pilot program for 25 students meets twice a week, extending their school day until 4 p.m.

Such efforts already paid off in Ossining, where only two seniors have yet to pass the Regents English and neither are in danger of failing to graduate for any other reason.

In addition to extended-day programs doubled periods and summer school, struggling high school, student can get one-on- one tutoring during the day at the Academic Skills Center.

We really worked very hard,” said Phylliss Glassman, assistant superintendent for instruction. “But there’s no guarantee that we’ll have zero next year.”

For students who have little hope of being able to graduate within a year of their class, some districts are planning alternative programs.

Port Chester, where 15 of the 73 seniors who have yet to pass the Regents test are unlikely to graduate, is planning such a program for immigrant students who lack a solid education in there own language, high school principle John Guarracino said.

“We’ll continue to teach them English, and they will get specialized training, like in hotel management,” he said. “A lot of them work as waiters and chambermaids even if they don’t have a diploma.”

Yonkers, too, is planning an alternative program that could be in place next year for students who otherwise struggle all through high School. It would avoid the frustration and pressure in the senior year to try to make up lost classes and credits.

“It’s at a too-late stage then to really do much to impact those students’ ability to graduate,” said Ray Willis, a district spokesman.