By Jennifer Marino
The school district, along with SSHS principal Carol Burris, is considering discontinuing the use of the physics regents exam and replacing the grade with other physics tests such as the International Baccalaureate test, the AP exam or the SAT II. The possibilities were discussed at the Sept. 10 public work session of the Board of Education.
Rather than live with the uncertainty of the [regents grading] scales, said Superintendent Dr. William Johnson, it would be better to abandon the physics regents altogether.
In 2001, 94 percent of South Side students who took the physics regents passed. That number dropped to 76 percent in 2002. The school district said the drop was caused by the change in the scale that converts the raw score to a scaled score.
School Board President Meg Koch said Rockville Centre has the luxury of not having to force students to take the physics regents.
There are several reasons the board and the superintendent feel confident about dismissing the physics regents. One is that they want kids to take physics and they don't want the daunting task of taking the regents to dissuade them. Another reason is that the other physics tests are widely considered to be more meaningful when it comes to college credits and placement, especially with out-of-state schools.
Approximately 80 percent of physics students already take one of other exams in addition to the regents. Of the students who do not take any of the three exams, those who are not taking physics in preparation for a major in the sciences in college should be okay with their final class grade and a departmental final exam grade on their transcripts, said Dr. Johnson.
There are still parts of the plan to be worked out. The IB, AP and SAT II exams have to be paid for and if one of them was required in physics the district would have to work out how to pay for it. Another option the district is contemplating is working with other Nassau County school districts to come up with a county-wide test. That option is more long term and far off, according to Dr. Johnson.
The board will also notify parents and students of the plan and give them an opportunity to address their concerns at the board meeting on Sept. 24. Physics teachers have been bringing it to parents' attention and it will be discussed at SSHS Back to School Night on Sept. 19.
Board of Education Trustee William Burke also urged the district to continue pursuing its legal action against the state. The district has filed under the freedom of information act to obtain some facts about the physics regents. Burke feels that the same problems with the grading scale in the physics regents could happen with another regents and that is why it is important to pursue the lawsuit.
IB, AP and SAT get it right every year, why can't the state? said Burke.
