AIMS Snafu May Keep 570 Students in TUSD from Graduating

The headline in today’s Tucson Citizen read, “AIMS may keep 570 in TUSD from graduating,” but, really, it’s the state legislation….

It’s true that there are 570 high school students who haven’t passed one or more portions of the AIMS test, or don’t know if they’ve passed, but, last year, there was a program in place called, ‘augmentation.’ That program allowed students who demonstrated outstanding academic efforts in attendance, grades in their reading, writing and math classes, and other factors, to receive their diploma even without passing a portion of the AIMS test.

This year, that program, the augmentation program, is under review by the legisltation, and being considered for renewal. BUT, it hasn’t been renewed yet, and may not before the graduation date set of May 22. So, those students who would have been eligible for graduation under last year’s program, are in a holding pattern….

I want to break out the numbers a little bit – I said that about 570 students are being affected. About 200 of those students are really just waiting to see if they passed the math portion that they took this spring – but, they may not find out for another week or two if they’ve passed the test. The remaining 370 or so students who, if augmentation isn’t renewed, won’t graduate because they haven’t passed the reading and/or writing portion of the test.

So, what should TUSD do? Should they allow those 70 students to walk, assuming that they’ll be able to initiate the augmentation program? What about the students who are just waiting to hear the results of their math test? At their regular meeting, next Tuesday, the district will be juggling that dilemma….

Can you imagine how hard this is for the kids, and their families? It’s already mid-May, and they don’t know if they’ll be able to graduate? All I know is that I'm sure glad I graduated from high school before the AIMS test - I'm pretty sure I would have needed help with that math test!

Thanks for reading,

Alisa