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» AMARILLO ISD
21
A Lifesaver
End-of-course assessments are given to all high school students in the
subject areas English I, English II, algebra I, biology and U.S. history.
Schools can choose to form an individual graduation committee for
a student who has otherwise successfully completed all curriculum
requirements for graduation. “Individual graduation committees are for
juniors and seniors who have failed up to two end-of-course exams,” says
Tracey Morman, Amarillo ISD Director of Guidance and Counseling.
Individual graduation committees are an option at all Amarillo ISD
high schools. “Graduation committees include the principal, the teacher
of the course where the student failed the exam, a department chair or
lead teacher, the student’s parent or guardian, or the student, if he or she
is over 18,” Tracey explains.
The individual graduation committee standards also require a
student’s IGC to recommend additional requirements for graduation.
This might include a fi nal project or a portfolio of work in the subject
area in question. Committees also consider a number of other success
factors, including teacher recommendations, the student’s grades, end-
of-course exam scores, attendance and language barriers. An IGC vote to
recommend a student for graduation must be unanimous.
“Bottom line, these committees protect many students who are
perfectly capable of being successful in their post-secondary education
from being held back by a test,” says Tracey. “We want to make sure each of
our students is prepared for success beyond high school. We also want to
be considerate of testing anxiety, language barriers, and other challenges
they may face which are beyond their control.”
Bahman’s Story
There’s possibly no better way to describe Bahman Rashid’s situation
than to call it circumstances beyond his control. Bahman was in the middle
of his high school years when his mother had a heart attack. Bahman was
left to care for his family while his mother recovered, meaning he missed
many school days. Still, he managed to pass all of the STAAR end-of-
course exams except for English I and II. “My junior year, I heard from the
counselor that if I passed three of the fi ve I could graduate. I wanted to do
my best. I passed those three and did well on them.”
Bahman speaks three languages: English, Farsi and Arabic. He prides
himself on being a well-behaved student and respectful to his teachers.
Each time Bahman would take the English test, he would do well on
the essay part, but the multiple choice section proved too diffi cult. An
individual graduation committee determined Bahman could graduate,
and when he walked the stage, his mother was able to be there to watch.
“When they called my name to graduate, my mom was crying because I’m
the fi rst one in the family to graduate from high school,” says Bahman.
Bahman is now enrolled in the x-ray technician program at Amarillo
College, and he’s a cashier at Market Street United. His confi dence and
pride were only strengthened by his untraditional path to graduation.
“Just work hard,” says Bahman. “Hard work pays off.”
Rebecca’s Story
As the only female in her college welding program, Rebecca Gonzalez
makes it a point to work harder than her classmates. She’s often ranked at
the top of her class.
But it wasn’t always that way.
Rebecca missed several months of her senior year of high school
after she was injured in a serious car accident. Admittedly not the most
dedicated student before the accident, when she returned to school
Rebecca had a whole new outlook on life and education. “The accident
made me realize a lot. Why did I not go to school every day before?”
says Rebecca.
She struggled with the STAAR end-of-course exam for English and
considered dropping out. That’s when she learned about the IGC option.
“I thought, ‘I’ve got this. I’m going to fi nish strong.’ ”
Rebecca graduated from Caprock High School last spring and enrolled
in the welding program at Lincoln Technical Institute in Grand Prairie.
After all she has overcome, Rebecca approaches her welding courses with
fi ery enthusiasm. “I may be the only girl, but I’m going to be better than
the guys,” she says. “I tell them, ‘Watch out. I’ll be better than y’all. Wait
and see.’”
“Just work hard,” says Bahman.
“Hard work pays off.”
“I thought, ‘I’ve got this.
I’m going to fi nish strong.’ ”