Show r k ii By Oy I Dr Superintendent Wayne Reid One student in 7 cant can't fill out i job b form Whereas one of ot the hottest Issues in education today is minimal competency testing many school districts across the nation are beginning to become aware aware of graduates' graduates deficiencies in the skills necessary to achieve an aware citizenship Uintah School District is the only one in the state willing at this time to explore such a unique endeavor in order to give accountability to the parents UNFORTUNATELY many districts are finding disastrous results In the Philadelphia school system high school seniors took their simple survival survival survival sur sur- vival examination similar to the one we propose One student in seven who took the literacy test was unable to fill out a job application form one in 12 couldn't define the word credit and one in 14 didn't know how to read a newspaper Yet despite these glaring weaknesses percent passed the examination Their test was called The Assessment of Functional Literacy and students In Philadelphia's 23 public high schools took part This test was based upon five parts The school systems which have given various tests of this type are wondering how those students who have failed it ever reached the grade Most believe that a student should not receive a certified high school diploma if he cant can't pass ass a functional functional literacy test IN ADDITION to the job application form 83 percent did not know the meaning of words such as as' as deposit credit and beware 72 S percent could 4 rea a newspaper 37 percent could not understand rules dealing with blueprints and privileges of drivers 14 percent percent percent per per- cent could not follow simple directions in taking medicine or washing clothes As with the Philadelphia experience experience experience ex ex- ex- ex other cities and states are responding to the minimal competency syndrome at a dizzying rate At At a recent project dealing with this subject 32 states sent representatives One of the principal speakers at this project was Chris associate director of Research and Information Services of the Education Commission of ot the States which administers National Assessment reviewed state legislation dealing with minimal com com- He indicated this is a fast moving scene Legislation is moving through state capitols capitals so rapidly that to day-to-day bulletins are needed to keep up with the action He said the push for minimal competency testing may be a reflection the general mood of the country FOR SOME time separate groups have been concerned about the need for more basic education declining test scores and more accountability for the education dollar Minimal competency testing may have become the common denominator release valve for foran all an of this public concern Four states states California California Florida Colorado and Virginia Virginia- already have legislation on the books with a a host of others considering legislation or implementing state board rulings Wherever California and Colorado goes Utah is generally not very far J behind In Utah already there are a number of separate groups advocating minimal competency competency competency com com- testing The Uintah School District feels we should be the leader in the the state of Utah and not wait around until a test is thrust upon us The educators want to become accountable We have some excellent teachers who really want to know where we stand and where we must improve It ItIs Itis Itis is my advice that if the parents are behind d such a movement that you b and id W. W ft 4 ls EJ pmt u S Ui wr i a |