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Crater adds to graduation standards But delays requiring CIM for diploma By VICKI GUARINO CENTRAL POINT -- Crater students will have to pass standardized tests to earn diplomas, but they won't have to earn a state Certificate of Initial Mastery -- the new Oregon benchmark -- to graduate. The school board has set in place graduation requirements that incorporate the district's academic standards and the new state standards. The policy was formally adopted by the board on Tuesday, but has been in the works for a few years. The new standards will go into effect for the class of 2001 -- students who are sophomores this year. The system may seem confusing, Principal Ron Williams admits, but staff, students and parents are beginning to sort out the process. Crater's graduation requirements move the school closer than most in the state to making the CIM a diploma requirement. The tests students will have to pass are identical in nature to the CIM tests. During a phase-in period, the school will accept a slightly lower passing grade than normally allowed, Williams said. Those who meet the district's standards and test score requirements will receive a Crater diploma at graduation. Those who also have passed the Oregon CIM tests will also receive a sticker or some sort of attachment acknowledging the accomplishment, Williams said. Only one high school in the state -- Reynolds in the Portland area -- requires students to meet CIM standards for a diploma. District staff will report to students and parents each student's progress toward meeting district standards and the graduation requirements at every grade, beginning in the third grade. One portion of the state standard, foreign language proficiency, has been postponed for several years. And a public speaking requirement won't be required until the graduating class of 2002. In both subjects, says Williams, the programs simply aren't ready for kids. Although there are public speaking opportunities, Crater hasn't had a full program in place. "We haven't had a chance to focus on the speaking component like we should," Williams said. The second language requirement, laid out by the state, will be even more difficult to accomplish. Tests will ask for a language proficiency that likely will require at least two years of study. "We do have a lot of kids taking foreign language now, but this would involve probably two times the kids we have enrolled now," Williams said. A major problem throughout Oregon is a lack of teachers, Williams added. "There are not enough teachers now certified to teach the amount of language required." Central Point's plan is to eventually make foreign language classes available to students well before they get to high school. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA