It is reasonable for educators to breathe easier as a bill moves forward that delays the effective date of the California High School Exit Exam a couple of years, but it may not be in the best interest of this year's junior class or the ones coming in following years if this happens.

The schools, while pushing to do better, may need this looming problem to stay focused.

Those students who have yet to pass ---- as many as 23 percent of next year's graduating class ---- need help now and it is up to our schools and the community of adults who care about these kids to give it.

Tuesday, the Assembly passed a bill that would make students in the class of 2006 ---- not the class of 2004, as originally planned ---- the first group required to pass the high-stakes test in order to get diplomas.

To review the magnitude of the problem: After the first two years of testing (conducted in spring 2001 and spring 2002) the approximately 13,600 members of the class of 2004 in North County, about 3,150 have yet to pass the math section and 1,500 have yet to pass the English portion. Both tests are geared to skills required in grades eight through 10.

Moreover, the demographic split of those who haven't passed hits Latino kids hard ---- about 50 percent of the kids failing the math portion are Latino; nearly 70 percent of the kids failing the English portion are Latino. By comparison, about 30 percent of the class is Latino.

(Imagine the dropout rates if one out of five of next year's class reaches the end of the year only to be told, "Sorry, no degree." The carnage to the individuals and society from taking this blunt club to public education is awful and, in many cases, unfair.)

This is not the fault of the children.

This is not the fault of the parents of these children.

This is not the fault of the ethnic and cultural heritage of these children.

This is the fault of a school system and a society that must understand its obligation to open the minds of these bright and intelligent kids from a variety of backgrounds. It must overcome the difficulties posed by them, many of whom must learn English after listening to Spanish all their lives. It must overcome the terrible disservice of low expectations.

After all, this is our job.

So don't celebrate delay of the exit exam too much ... we need the focus.