Sat.
Change my location 
Article History There are updates to this article.
)
The level of county English-learning students scoring well on the state English Language Development Test remains at 35 percent.
San Mateo County (Map, News) - As California’s non-native students showed improvement in English proficiency this school year, the same can’t be said for those in San Mateo County, according to the results of a statewide exam.
In 2007-08, nearly 36 percent of English-learning students scored as “early advanced” or “advanced” on the California English Language Development Test, up from 32 percent the previous year, the state said. In San Mateo County, however, the number hadn’t budged from about 35 percent for both school years.
“We do take a look at our test results annually, and our students continue to make progress toward English,” said Sharon DeBiagio, curriculum director for the Millbrae School District. “[The improvement] is not a surprise. To get that feedback is terrific, but we will continue to raise that bar toward a new target so we can continue that trend.”
The results don’t necessarily mean English learners in San Mateo County are picking up the language at a slower pace than students across the state, according to local school district officials.
“While the county average is around 35 percent, Redwood City School District is a bit off in terms of the average because almost 50 percent of our students are English learners,” said Yvette Irving, the district’s director of ELL service. “That’s why when you do a comparison to the countywide average [of English learners], the results are a bit different. In Redwood City, we double the average.”
Irving also said the latest test results were tallied during a transitional year for her district. The district was in the process of writing a new achievement plan at the time that the test was given. The new plan is currently in place and includes an additional teacher within classrooms, new teaching materials that are specific to English-learners and time allocated each day to where all classrooms in the district are specifically teaching ELD.
“I’m sure that we will see an improvement after this year,” Irving said.
Local school districts showing improved test scores included Millbrae (up 6 percent), San Bruno Park Elementary (4), Belmont-Redwood Shores (8), Burlingame Elementary (5) and San Mateo Union (6). Some districts weighing down the county average were Ravenswood (down 6 percent), Brisbane Elementary (15) and Redwood City (3).
 Not ranked |
 EMAIL ME THIS STORY |
ARTICLE HISTORY 
Comments from Examiner Readers
9:29 AM MST on Tue., Apr. 22, 2008 re: "‘Tailor made’ bill could protect district from cuts"
Report as inappropriate
6:39 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 16, 2008
re: "Students may have lunch-money blues"
Report as inappropriate
4:34 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008
re: "Exit exam leaves districts scrambling"
Report as inappropriate
3:17 PM MST on Wed., Apr. 9, 2008
re: "Exit exam leaves districts scrambling"
Report as inappropriate
12:45 AM MST on Sun., Mar. 9, 2008
re: "Exit exam leaves districts scrambling"
Report as inappropriate
San Bruno Examiner Reader said:
Article would have been more informative if you had included the Senate Bill Number. I found that it is SB1447
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
If a high school student doesn't have enough credits to graduate, whose fault is it but thier own. I went to high school, had four years to fulfill what i was suposed to, and did. If you can't do what your asked (which is a students sole resposibility) than it makes sense not to walk. High school kids think everything is going to fall on thier lap, welcome to reality!
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
More importantly I would argue that a child in good standing, with non-diminished cerebral skills who is unable to pass the exit exams may have been failed by his teachers and the school district. Should we be punishing students for their shortcomings? If the exit exams serve as proof that someone has learned enough to deserve a diploma then why not let failing students take it, and if they pass, give them diplomas. This is coming from someone who completely failed High School, took the GED without studying the phone book they have for that exam, and scored in the top 13% in the country. The common response I receive is: "well congratulations, your smarter then 87% of all the other High School dropouts out there, what an achievement". Guess what, GED scores are compared against High School graduates scores who have also taken the test. My point, Grades mean nothing, it's what you learn. Work smart not hard sums up my high school career. Make the diploma mean something.
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
San Mateo Dad said:
don't ya think that not getting the diploma is enough? maybe they shouldn't get invited to any graduation parties, either.... It's up to the school (the district). My child's graduation is not in any way marred by letting other kids walk across the stage. Maybe we should have a separate ceremony for the kids who failed, and we can throw tomatoes at them and make them feel foolish. Am sure that would straighten them out, eh? [sarcasm intended] Kids who do everything but pass the exit exam have still accomplished a lot. Let's help them stay on the right path, instead of making them feel foolish. Isn't that a more important objective??
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Jack Kirkpatrick said:
"High school districts in San Mateo County will face a delicate decision of whether to allow students who don’t pass the state exit exam to walk the stage during graduation with the rest of their class." This is no delicate decision. If a student doesn't fulfill all of the requirements of the exit examination, they don't collect the laurels of family and class recognition or the diploma cover!
4 agree | 4 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree