Thousands to receive high school diploma after exit exam suspended

Governor Brown recently signed legislation that will retroactively give high school diplomas to students who failed California’s mandatory high school exit exam or CAHSEE as far back as 2006. Since that year students have needed to pass English and Math on the test along with all required classes in order to graduate. This action by the state follows an emergency suspension of the test in July and subsequent awarding of diplomas to all graduating seniors in California public schools for the class of 2015.

Students first took the CAHSEE their sophomore year. If the student failed, they could re-take the sections they didn’t pass up to two times in grade eleven, up to five times in grade twelve and as adults up to three times per school year.

Anne Kalisek, Director of Secondary Education and Curriculum Instruction at Palm Springs Unified School District offers possible reasons why in spite of the many opportunities, students still didn’t pass the CAHSEE.

“We have students who may come to us in their junior year from another country not even speaking English and if they earned credits in Mexico in a subject area we post them to their transcripts so they may have difficulty if they came late. And then you have students who really just don’t do well testing”

The test came under fire from the beginning for alleged racial and financial bias, but the move to change the system *now* comes from implementing the Common Core Curriculum.

The CAHSEE did not match the standards in place now.

The Governor’s signing of the bill forces the State to suspend the test until 2019 giving educators and lawmakers time to decide whether to require a new test or come up with other measures for graduation.

Superintendant for Coachella Valley Unified School District, Dr. Darryl Adams agrees the changes need to be made in order to encompass more of a student’s intellect and interests.

“I’d like to make the argument that we can not judge a student or school based upon one day for a test. There needs to be multiple ways to assess them and put it all together and then determine what students know and what the students should be able to do.”

Some former students who took the test and passed see the situation differently. As evidenced by the thousands of comments left on our Facebook page. Here is a small sample:

*Liz Alexandra- BULL**** THEY SHOULD KEEP IT!!!!!
I didn’t work hard for nothing just for them to take it off just like that smh.

*Kelly McGlasson- At my school we took it sophomore year. If you didn’t pass, you got two more tries. I’m sorry, but I believe that to be fair. The test needs to stay.

*Darcy Claiborne-This is a horrible idea. They ended up suspending the CAHSEE the year I graduated (2005) and it was upsetting to me back then too. I worked really hard and studied very hard to be able to pass it the first time I took it

*Kyle Melander- Soooo were gonna let everyone pass to make the school system look like it is successful? What a joke California representives. If someone can’t pass the joke of a skills test that is cahsee they need the reality check that failing and being a super senior brings them! This is a slap in the face to everyone that holds education to a higher standard

*Arlaen Flores Am already a high school Graduate and to feel this is down grading that We (I) worked our *ss’ too pass the exams!?
(Hint) it is called the CALIFORNIA high school exit exam.

Superintendent Adams response to those former students who feel it’s an unfair decision, “I don’t mean it in a bad way…but that’s a part of life. I’m happy you were able to complete it…those who didn’t and now have a way to get their diploma. I’m happy for you too. It gives you some validity that you completed your twelve years of schooling”

Mary Perry, Public Information Officer for Desert Sands Unified School Districts, agrees and told us, “life isnt always fair and hopes former students will look at the facts”

The law goes into effect January 1, 2016.

Students seeking a diploma who attended CVUSD may contact the school district after the new year. Former students of DSUSD should contact the individual school they attended, also after the new year. Palm Springs Unified School District suggests students contact the individual school attended but after January 11th. All three school districts said they will attempt to reach students at their last known address with instructions on how to claim their diploma.

Literally thousands of students who achieved all their credits but could not pass the exit exam will soon be able to call themselves high school graduates.