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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend January 24, 2006 State schools chief allays local CIM, CAM worries By PARIS ACHEN Mail Tribune Some Southern Oregon school superintendents worry that a proposal to scrap the state’s high school achievement certificates could reduce academic standards. School district officials from Grants Pass to Klamath Falls met in Medford Monday to discuss the issue with state schools Superintendent Susan Castillo, who has proposed eliminating the certificates of initial mastery and advanced mastery. "I’m concerned we will lose high standards for kids," said Phil Long, Medford School District superintendent. Devised in 1991, the CIM is a voluntary certificate for students who pass 10th-grade state tests in reading, math, writing and science and provide work samples in writing, math and public speaking. The CAM, which has not been fully implemented, would require students to pass the CIM and participate in job shadowing and other career-related education. Advertisement Castillo noted that only one-third of students in the state earn the CIM; it is not tied to graduation, colleges do not consider it in admissions and businesses do not require it for employment. "I think we need to focus on high school diplomas and raise the bar for what that means and what it takes to get a diploma," she said. "That would include the things that have worked in the CIM and the CAM." The State Board of Education is reviewing graduation and diploma standards, including the CIM and CAM. They are expected to present proposals for changes next spring and a final recommendation to the state Legislature in 2007, Castillo said. "For now, the CIM and CAM remain in place," Castillo said, "but my issue is raising the issue of whether or not we should continue to have these certificates. Are these getting in the way of talking about high standards and making learning relevant?" Local school administrators acknowledge a need for change in the state’s assessment system. "CIM has been ingrained in our system since 1991," Long said. "We’re seeing we need to rethink a lot of things. What is CIM and CAM compared to a diploma? There hasn’t been a connection with higher education and businesses." Kirk Gibson, Crater High School principal, said the CIM is useful to teachers in gauging the effectiveness of curriculum and instruction. But for students, the test has no meaning, he said. "The CIM is not perceived to have an impact beyond the walls of the high school," Gibson said. "Colleges don’t look at it. Businesses don’t look at it. You don’t need it for a diploma. You don’t need it for a driver’s permit. Students focus on what has a tangible impact on their future." He said he would like the assessment to be tied to graduation and formatted in a way that allows educators to compare Oregon students’ performance to those in other states. "It would be nice to have one straight-forward system tied to a diploma that makes sure we as an education system are doing a good job," he said. Reach reporter Paris Achen at 776-4459 or e-mail State schools chief allays local CIM, CAM worries ">[email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s Advertisement