Passing the GRAD Math exam is not required to earn your diploma. In fact, the GRAD "Parents Brochure" found on the Minnesota Department of Education website list 4 ways to meet the diploma requirement:
How do students meet the graduation requirement?
There are a number of ways to meet the diploma requirement, including
• Receiving a proficient score on the MCA-II
• Receiving a passing score on the GRAD
• Receiving a Pass Individual (for students on IEP or 504 Plans)
OR
• Receiving a passing score on a GRAD retest
While the GRAD Math exam is "embedded" in the MCA-II exam, the GRAD Math is only part of the total math portion of the MCA-II. This means that a student could fall short on the GRAD math questions, but do well enough on the remaining math questions to pass the MCA-II without meeting the GRAD requirement. In that case, and this has been confirmed by the department, the student would still earn a diploma because they met one of the "4 ways to meet the diploma requirement."
Understanding this reaffirms my opposition to Senator Wiger's bill. I don't doubt that the math test may be difficult. I don't doubt that some of our students aren't prepared for the GRAD math testing. But, I actually believe that the state has adequate options for our students in this regard. Even if they fail the GRAD Math test when it is administered in their Junior year of high school, they still have 2 paths to graduation open to them. They could pass the MCA-II exam and still graduate or they can retake the GRAD math exam until they do pass it. There are several opportunities to retake, and pass, the GRAD before graduation.
The real issue that should be addressed is whether the GRAD math exam is too dificult, our math programs are too weak, or both. If the GRAD requirements are excessive, we definitely should have them reviewed and reworked. If the GRAD requirements are found to be appropriate, then we need to find ways to improve our mathematics curiculums. Lets not dismiss the importance of mathmatics proficiency while we work on the root of the problem.
