Maybe this has something to do with it. California has a new exit exam requirement for all graduating seniors. The exam does not ask students to perform at grade level. The exam does not require what is commonly thought of as a "passing" grade for credit. Just 50% on a test that is about 2 or 3 grade levels below the mark! Students may take the test several times. Superintendent of Public Education in Los Angeles, Roy Romer, is bragging that now 80% of LA high school seniors have now passed both parts of the test! But that means 20% or 1 in 5 have NOT--CANNOT! This is from the LA Times story--sorry, the link requires registration: Overall, 80% of the district’s high school seniors have passed both parts of the test, up from 75% last fall. Nearly 6,000 Los Angeles seniors have yet to clear the exam hurdle." Incredibly, there are shrieks and howls from all the usual suspects about making the exam easier! Further, this is what gets top billing at the Times. Is it any wonder that the kids can’t pass a test with people like this running things?