Some DHS Seniors Struggle with Graduation Requirements

DAYTONThe Times- Three members of Dayton High School'sDAYTONsenior class- Threelearned lastmembersmonth ofthatDaytonthey willHighnot receiveSchool'sdiplomassenior classat learnedgraduation last monthtime.thatAccordingthey will notto Daytonreceive diplomasSchool Superintendent at graduation Dougtime. Johnson,Accordingtwoto ofDaytonthe threeSchoolstudentsSuperintendent failed an "Dougend ofJohnson,course"allmaththree exam,studentswhichfailedisanmandated"end of by Thecourse"the statemathof Washington. is mandatedthird studentexam, which has not acquired enoughby thecreditsstate ofin math.Washington.

A"Theyfourthtookgraduatingthe examsenior in January,was butalsoweidentifieddid not lastget monththe resultsas havinguntil Aprilnot 25,"met stateJohnsonrequirementssaid. for graduation. TheButstatea transcriptsrequires errorthat waseveryfound,graduatingand aseniorneededin math2014 passcreditat fromleast onean eighthend of gradecourse classmath exam.correctedThe theexams problem.are offered to students takingRegardingmath classesthe studentsas early notas eighthmeetinggrade.theAccordingexam requirement, to Johnson, eachJohnsonof the said,three "studentsThey tookinthequestionexam in January, has takentheandstatefaileddid notthereleaseexam resultsat leastuntilthreeApril."times, and in someThecases,statefourrequirestimes. that everyThegraduatingstudents willseniorbe ablein 2014to takepasstheatexamleast againone endlaterof coursethis month,math exambut thein algebraresults orwillgeometry.not be knownThe untilexamsat areleastofferedAugust.to Johnsonstudents taking math classes said that all three studentsas early as eighth grade. Accordingareto Johnson,currentlybothtakingof thea studentsspecial in question have taken and

Doug Johnson failed the exam three times. examThepreparationstudents willclass,be ablein towhichtake thea mathexamteacheragain lateris thisworkingmonth,withbutthosethestudentsresults willalonenotforbeoneknownperioduntileachat leastday. August. Johnson said that"Theyall threewillstudentsbe ableareto takecurrently part intakinggraduation,a specialbutexamthey preparationwill not receiveclass,aindiploma,"which a mathJohnsonteachersaid,isuntilworkingstatewithrequirements those studentsarealonemet. for one periodA fourtheach day.graduating senior Duringwas the same the studentsalso toldarelastclassmonthperiod togetherthat he met stateputtinghad notwhat the state callsrequirements a "Collectionforofgraduation.Evidence" (ButCOE).an errorThe COEwas foundwill bein submittedhis transcripts,no laterandthana neededJune 11mathandcreditif thefromstatea classacceptshe thetookworkin eighthstudentsgradewillwasbe creditedadded. Thatwithallowedmeetinghimtheto endmeetofallcourserequirements.exam requirement. At aResultsDaytonfromschooltheboardCOE aremeetingalso notlastavailableweek, someuntil August.parents expressed frustration "Theythat schoolwill be administrators able to take part hadn'tin graduation,done enoughbut theyto willmakenotsurereceivestudentsa diploma,"were Johnsonmeeting graduationsaid, until staterequirements. requirements Johnsonare met.said that whileAt a theDaytonstateschoolprovidesboard meetingno flexibilitylast inweek,the endsomeof parentscourse expressedexam requirement,frustration thathe acceptsschool thatadministratorsthe school hadn'tmay needdonetoenoughdo a betterto makejob suremakingstudentssure werestudentsmeetingand graduation requirements. Johnson said that while the state provides no flexibility intheirtheparentsend ofclearlycourseunderstand exam requirement,what theherequirementsaccepts that theare, schooland wheremaytheneedstudentsto do astand.better job making sure students and their parents clearly"Doesunderstandthe schoolwhathavethe requirementssome culpability?are, andYes,whereI thethinkstudentswe needstand.to improve our"Doescommunication,"the school havehe somesaid. culpability? Yes, I thinkBeginningwe needthisto spring,improvea ourmeetingcommunication,"will be held eachhe said.year with all eighth graders Beginningpreparing thisto enterspring,higha meetingschool andwill theirbe heldparentseach yearwith highwith schoolall eighthPrincipalgraders AndypreparingMaheras.to enter high school"Thisandmeetingtheir parentswillwithaddress high schoolthe graduationPrincipal Andyrequirements Maheras. for the class and explain"Thishow/meetingwhen willrequirements address willthe begraduationrecorded andrequirements communicated,"for the classJohnsonand explainsaid in ahow/summarywhenreportrequirements he wrote afterwill betherecordedboard meeting. and communicated,""Mr. MaherasJohnsonhas developed said in a trackingsummaryformreportand hewillwrotereviewafter the board meeting. "Mr.theMaherasform withhas developedstudents anda trackingmail homeform andat thewillconclusionreview theof formeach withschoolstudentsyear." and mail home at Johnsonthe conclusionsaid thatof eachthe school year."district is also seeking Johnsonfunding tosaidallowthathiringthe schoolof a fulltimedistrictacademicis also seekingcounselor fundingfortotheallowhighhiringschool.of a fulltimeA majoracademicpart of counselorthat person's for thejobhighwouldschool.beAtomajorhelp partstudentsof thatand person'stheir parentsjob wouldtrack theirbe toprogresshelp studentstoward andgraduation.their parentsA similartrack position their progresswas eliminatedtoward graduation.with the Aretirementsimilar positionof counselorwas eliminated Ken Morganwitha fewtheyearsretirementago. of counselor" WithKentheMorgancontinuala few yearschangeago.made to (state) graduation " Withrequirementsthe continualit has changebeen difficultmade toto(state)trackgraduation for everyonerequirementsinvolved," itJohnson has beensaid.difficult to track for everyone involved," Johnson said.