In a statement, BESE President Holly Boffy said that the LEAP test is a key tool for measuring student achievement but that it can sometimes become a barrier for students who otherwise know the material, particularly those learning English.
“There are many examples throughout our state of students with unique testing difficulties being tested repeatedly without success, despite having a strong understanding of the content,” she said. “In such cases, the mechanics of test taking have blocked that student’s advancement, pushing them out of employment and enrollment opportunities, leading to a disconnected youth.”
Barrier to graduation
In 2019 the statewide high school graduation rate was 80%, but for students learning English, it was 41%. In 2021, the most recent data available from the state, the overall graduation rate was 83.5% and the English learner rate was 52.6%. Because of the pandemic, the state waived the testing requirement in 2020 and 2021.