Dear Parents,

By the time this article reaches you the holidays will
likely be over and Parkville High School will be starting the
second half of the academic year. One of the major
school-related events of the new year is the administration
of the HSA in early January. As you may have heard, on
October 31st the Maryland State Board of Education voted
to maintain the High School Assessment program as a
graduation requirem ent for the class of 2009. The Board
also approved an additional measure, entitled Bridge Plan
for Academic Validation, for those students for whom
passing the HSA’s has proven difficult even after
remediation.

Under the Bridge Plan, students who have passed all
of their other requirements can pass the HSA by
completing a rigorous Academic Validation project. State
developed project modules would address the content
area where a student has demonstrated a deficiency. For
example, a student unable to pass the biology
assessment might develop a project delving into the
structure and function of molecules, or the inheritance of
traits. After looking at one of the prototypes for the biology
project, in my view, they reminded of a very complex,
detailed science fair project. I offer this opinion because
they look challenging, and I don’t want our students to
think that passing each of the HSA tests is unim portant.
Just so that you will know, these projects will be
administered locally, but state m anaged and assessed to
assure consistency and diffic ulty level.
You can help your child be successful by stressing the
importance of these tests when we take them. Thank you
for your continued support of Parkville High School and
feel free to stay in touch.

Happy New Year!
Fondly,
Stephen A. Edgar