Nevada used to require high school students to pass the math, science, and ELA  Proficiency Exam before receiving a diploma. Thousands of students were not able to walk with their graduating class because they had not been able to pass all three exams. Students were not able to obtain a job or start college in the fall because they did not have an official record for graduation. Thankfully, the Proficiency Exams were eliminated. Last year, students who received passing grades but did not pass all the Proficiency Exams were awarded their diploma.

Current high school students face the same risk as previous students, as the Proficiency Exam has now been replaced with End of Course Exams. Students are now required to pass a science, math, and ELA exam before they can receive their diploma.

High school students who come from low-income backgrounds, have special needs, or IEPS  will be negatively affected by this new rule. Also, immigrants and ELL students will have a hard time complementing the requirement. This new graduate requirement not only singles out students but it wastes millions of dollars as the “Collection of Evidence” process tries to provide an explanation on why some students did not pass. 

Every student deserves an equal chance of walking with their respective class and receiving their high school diploma. The purpose of standarized test is to measure student achievement not to dictate whether someone is capable of graduating or not.

Your support can make a difference for the future of singled out students who are not given a fair chance to succeed. Sign this petition so your son, daughter, or loved one will not be left behind. You can also get involved by contacting superintendents in Nevada and Board of Trustee members in Nevada.