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Dillingham senior wants hasty exit for exit exam

By Associated Press 11:31 AM February 10, 2014

A wide-ranging education bill would also improve access for charter schools and increase the student funding formula

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – Some high school seniors traveled nearly 900 miles to lobby state educators to do away with the state’s exit exam.

The Senate Education Committee on Monday heard additional testimony on Gov. Sean Parnell’s omnibus education bill. Besides doing away with the exam, the wide-ranging bill would improve access for charter schools and increase the student funding formula, known as the base student allocation.

Brandie Bocatch is a senior at Dillingham High School. She told lawmakers that the exam is so ridiculously easy, on an eighth grade level, that it’s not relevant.

Also providing testimony were state education officials, school superintendents and other students.

The committee didn’t make any decisions on the bill, and will schedule further testimony.

(Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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