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Sisters, Oregon
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The contents of the on-line edition of The Nugget represent a selection among the stories that appear in the weekly print edition.

School district to modify diplomas
By Jim Cornelius

Students may soon have different requirements to earn a 26-credit Sisters High School diploma.

The school board on Monday night, November 10, heard a request from school staff to repeal the district's policy linking the diploma to local standards derived from state Certificate of Initial Mastery (CIM) test scores.

Those standards require students to meet certain scores on state tests in reading, math and writing. Those scores are lower than those required to meet CIM standards. The class of 2004 is the first class to have to meet those requirements.

Curriculum director Lora Nordquist argued that the linkage to standards could prevent a handful of long-term Sisters students from earning a diploma if they don't meet standards. However, students who are new to the district may have those standards waived, since they don't have time to meet them.

This, Nordquist and special education specialist Jim Golden argued, is unfair.

Golden noted that the current requirements are difficult to explain to both students and their parents.

Assessment coordinator Karen Withrow also noted that tracking multiple standards -- state CIM standards and local requirements -- "is a nightmare.

The proposal got a mixed reception.

School board member Jeff Smith expressed concern that the proposal marks "a significant philosophical shift for the district. He noted that the board has long supported tying the school diploma to standards of competency.

Smith expressed support for tying a diploma to at least a minimal guarantee of functional ability in basic subjects.

Nordquist agreed to refine the proposal to include a standard of measure of competence.

Board member Tom Coffield said he has never been a supporter of CIM and has no problem de-linking the diploma from those standards.

But Nordquist didn't want her proposal to be seen as a retreat from state standards.

Nordquist emphasized that "in no way shape or form are we saying that we want to back off from CIM.

She said the CIM standards are good standards that have been thoroughly integrated into school curriculum. Performance on CIM tests is also the state measure for the quality of Sisters schools.

Sisters students currently earn one of three diplomas: a 26-credit Sisters High School diploma; a CIM diploma indicating the student meets or exceeds all state standards; or a 22-credit State of Oregon diploma.

Nordquist also requested that the board consider a proposal for an "honors diploma that would have extra requirements to motivate high-achieving students.

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