Senator Eliot Shapleigh - El Paso, Texas

AUSTIN – In a slight improvement over last year, nearly one of seven high school seniors from the Class of 2008 couldn't pass all sections of the state's high school graduation test and will not receive a diploma, the Texas Education Agency reported on Friday.

Results from the exit-level Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills showed that minority students were the most severely affected by the graduation test requirement as 20 percent of Hispanics and 23 percent of black students failed, leaving them off the stage when other students receive diplomas during graduation ceremonies this spring.

The 35,053 students who failed the exam include about 6 percent each of white and Asian students who were tested. Last year, a record 40,182 seniors didn't pass.

State education officials have said it may take time to significantly boost scores after a higher passing standard was phased in last year that requires students to answer more questions correctly. High school students are tested in four subjects – English, math, science and social studies. On most TAKS exams, students are called on to correctly answer 60 percent to 70 percent of the questions in each subject area to pass.

A TEA spokeswoman said school districts will offer tutoring and other remedial help to students still trying to get diplomas.

"There will be help for students who want it," said Debbie Ratcliffe of the education agency, noting that the next opportunity to take the test will be in July.

Texas has required high school students to pass a graduation test to earn their diplomas since 1987. Students have five opportunities to pass the exam beginning with the spring of their junior year.

Statewide, about 3 million public school students were tested on the TAKS this year.

Scores on the state's annual achievement test held steady at other grade levels this spring, although officials reported declines in some areas because results from a new test for special education students were included in the overall results for the first time.

Stakes on the TAKS are highest for third-, fifth- and eighth-graders, who must pass to be promoted, and for high school seniors, who must pass to get a diploma. Third-, fifth- and eighth-graders fall under a state law aimed at curtailing the practice of social promotion – passing students regardless of achievement.

The results released Friday showed that most of the students in those grades will advance. Those who failed will get a final shot at promotion in July.

State officials focused their attention Friday on eighth-graders, who were the first in their grade level to face the tougher standard. Those students have been the high-stakes testing pioneers of Texas – they were also the first group called on to pass the third- and fifth-grade exams to be promoted.

Among eighth-graders, 95 percent have passed the reading section of the TAKS – after two testing opportunities – and 75 percent have passed math – after one opportunity. Officials expect the latter percentage to jump when results from the second math test are announced next week.

"We have set high expectations for this group of students, and each year they meet or exceed them," state Education Commissioner Robert Scott said. "A high percentage of students have passed the reading test, and we expect the math passing rate to rise substantially when results are reported."

Other key results showed that a large number of fifth-graders – nearly 10 percent – are in danger of flunking because they haven't passed the reading section of the exam after two opportunities. About 17 percent failed the math test the first time, but that number is expected to drop once results for the second test is announced in the next week or so.

Nearly 93 percent of third-graders – about the same as last year – passed the reading section of the TAKS. Those students only have to pass in reading to be promoted, while fifth- and eighth-graders also have to pass the math exam.

Among 11th-graders who took the graduation test for the first time, 71 percent passed – a slight gain over last year that officials said would have been larger if not for inclusion of scores of special education students.

Texas and other states were required for the first time by the federal government to include test scores of special education students in overall results.

While high school seniors who failed the graduation test can't receive a diploma, the state does allow districts to award a "certificate of completion."

Still, there are many critics of the requirement, and some minority legislators have unsuccessfully tried to modify the standard, citing the disproportionate impact on minority students.

On Friday, a state judge in Corpus Christi ruled against a Hispanic student who had sought a court order requiring that she be allowed to participate in this weekend's graduation ceremony at King High School even though she failed the TAKS. Her attorneys argued that the requirement was discriminatory.

All students who took the TAKS this year were tested in math and reading, with selected grades also tested in science, social studies and writing.