Credit: Lillian Mongeau/EdSource Today
Carol Liu

The California High School Exit Exam may be suspended immediately, possibly letting off the hook thousands of seniors who need to pass it to graduate this year, under a bill passed today by a legislative committee.

The Assembly Education Committee approved the bill, SB 172, to suspend the requirement that students pass the exit exam starting with the Class of 2015. One member, Assemblywoman Young Kim, R-Fullerton, abstained.

The vast majority of seniors already completed the exam to graduate this past school year. State law started requiring students to pass the exit exam, which has English language arts and math sections, to graduate from high school starting with the Class of 2006.

Earlier this year, a previous version of the bill stated that the exit exam should be suspended for three years starting in 2016-17 because the test is based on the California State Standards, which are no longer taught in schools. The suspension time would give state officials time to figure out future graduation requirements based on the Common Core standards, now used in classrooms.

But state lawmakers later learned that the contract with the exam’s testing company, Educational Testing Service, expired after the May exam. The California Department of Education canceled the July administration of the exit exam, also known as CAHSEE.

About 5,000 seniors, who had yet to pass the test, would have been eligible to try again this month – possibly a last-ditch chance to graduate in 2015.

After the contract expired, legislative staff recommended that the committee suspend the exam for three years starting in 2014-15.

“The exam is no longer available for class of 2015 test takers who failed the May administration and cannot retake it,” a bill analysis stated. “(The) intent, then, is to suspend the CAHSEE requirement beginning with those members of the class of 2015 who have not passed it.”

The bill’s author, Sen. Carol Liu, D-La Canada Flintridge, supported the change, saying it “provides relief to the Class of 2015.”

The legislative analysis listed 29 bill supporters, including State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, who sponsored the bill, as well as the California School Boards Association and the California Teachers Association.

“It does not make sense to continue to give an exam based on old standards,” said Keric Ashley, deputy superintendent of the California Department of Education. “It’s time to move on and look at other options.”

Two of those who initially were listed as opposing the bill changed their minds.

Liz Guillen, director of legislative and community affairs for Public Advocates, told the committee that her organization at first opposed the bill because staff members were getting calls regarding the lack of clarity about what would happen to the Class of 2015. But Public Advocates now supports the bill because of the change.

Kim, who had concerns about the bill, said she decided to abstain because she was “torn” about the exam’s suspension.

“I believe we should have a minimum skills test before they graduate,” Kim said.

Doug McRae, a retired educational measurement specialist, said he thought the suspension was premature before a decision is made about the exit exam’s future. He was opposed to the original version of the bill and remains so.

The bill calls for the superintendent of public instruction to form an advisory panel to make recommendations about the continuation of an exit exam or “alternative pathways” for graduation. A report to the State Board of Education would be due March 1.

For the Class of 2014, 97 percent of all students passed the test to graduate, according to a November 2014 report cited in the legislative analysis.

Many students, who fail the exam after multiple attempts, often are missing class credits and would not graduate anyway, educators have said.

During high school, students have eight opportunities to take the exit exam, starting in 10th grade. The math portion is based on Algebra 1 and the English section is based on 10th-grade standards.

The bill passed the Senate on June 1. The next step is the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

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  1. Aziz 8 years ago8 years ago

    I graduated in 2011 with passing all my classes and all my credits. I passed the math CAHSEE but not the English. Is there any way I can get my diploma? I graduated from FAME public charter school.

  2. elisi 8 years ago8 years ago

    I did pass my English part and I have all my credits for school on 2006. I did everything till the end. I wonder if I’m going to be able to get my diploma. I went to Compton High about 3 weeks ago. I was wondering how long would it take to know if I’m going to get my diploma.

  3. Blanca 8 years ago8 years ago

    I graduated in 2011. During my school year I passed all my classes and even walked but didn’t not get my diploma because I failed to pass the math cashee exam cab I still get my diploma now or what can I do

  4. Madison Nguyen 8 years ago8 years ago

    I’m currently in 9th grade. Would I still have to to it in 12th grade?

    Replies

  5. Vernette 8 years ago8 years ago

    My son graduated in June 2014. All he got was a certificate of completion. I did not understand why he had not received his high school diploma I was told he passed English but not math; when he heard that he was crushed. I asked the school about this bill, and they said they don’t know. What do we do?

    Replies

  6. Nancy 8 years ago8 years ago

    Hello everyone! I have a question that I'm very concerned about. Also has me stressing...well, I've been hearing from different schools that they cancelled the cahsee test. So I went to my school Thomas High School Downey. I asked about this cancellation of the exam. They acted like they didn't know anything. Well the point here is that I was suppose to graduate last year since I was a "super senior" is what they call … Read More

    Hello everyone! I have a question that I’m very concerned about. Also has me stressing…well, I’ve been hearing from different schools that they cancelled the cahsee test. So I went to my school Thomas High School Downey. I asked about this cancellation of the exam. They acted like they didn’t know anything. Well the point here is that I was suppose to graduate last year since I was a “super senior” is what they call it. The reason at first was because of my credits. So this year I attended adult school and got all my credits I only needed 2!!! So I called Downey talked to my counselor and she said okay now you need to pass your math test. So took my math test I failed and failed… I was having lots of trouble. My reason was because in high school they had put me in special education. Those classes don’t show are teach you higher or normal math like any other regular classes. Special ed is way lower. That’s what messed me up badly.
    Any advice?! Any information about this exam ??? Please let me know. I’m really looking forward to go to college and furthering my future\career

    Replies

      • Nancy 8 years ago8 years ago

        Sarah Tully

        So where and what do I do now???
        I hope this is true!
        I don’t want to get my hopes.
        Where should I call? Because my school that I attend Thomas Downey High School I asked last month and the administrator was talking about 2004 and blah blah. He just said come back in a month…

  7. Matthew Yang 8 years ago8 years ago

    I tried and tried every year and still didn’t pass the english part. I even try it again and again at an adult school but still fail. I had over the credits but only need the english part to get my diploma. Someone please help!!!!

  8. Neons Chan 8 years ago8 years ago

    How about the year 2011? Did not psss the CAHSEE, but completed all the requirements for graduation.

    I was in the Special Education Program, would this exempt me?

    Thanks.

    Neona Chan

    Replies

  9. michaela 8 years ago8 years ago

    i recieved all my credits stayed and studied i passed one (english) and missed math by one and couldnt walk the stage with friends n 13 i was discourged and never took it again because they told me you have to pass the exams to walk u know how hard i tried?!

  10. KimyWimy 9 years ago9 years ago

    What about the kids who did not pass in the year 2009 and had all their credits? Is it possible to get your dipolma still?

  11. class of 2014 9 years ago9 years ago

    What about class of 2014? I had all my credits finished and was done with school 2 months early, but I didn’t pass the math portion of the CAHSEE..

  12. Adult Ed Student 9 years ago9 years ago

    Sb 172 waives the Cahsee, but would not be effective untill Jan 1 2016. So it does not help Adult students in getting a diploma for this year 2015 I am an Adult Ed student and I was enrolled in school in July 2015 but the Cahsee test was canceled and not available to me . The Oct 2015 Cahsee test is cancelled. I will finish my … Read More

    Sb 172 waives the Cahsee, but would not be effective untill Jan 1 2016. So it does not help Adult students in getting a diploma for this year 2015

    I am an Adult Ed student and I was enrolled in school in July 2015 but the Cahsee test was canceled and not available to me . The Oct 2015 Cahsee test is cancelled. I will finish my last required class in October. I have been told that the SB725 exemption will not apply to Adult students for this year by the Dept Of Education and I will have to wait till January if SB172 passes.

    SB 725 became law under ED code 60851.1. Notwithstanding any other law, the high school exit examination shall not be required as a condition of receiving a diploma of graduation or a condition of graduation from high school for a pupil completing grade 12 in 2015 and who has met all other high school graduation requirements.

    Adult Education for high school credits is an ongoing program students get a diploma upon completion of requirements rather than a K12 who get them at the end of the school year. The state has the same Cahsee requirements for both K12 and Adult students for the same diploma. I have been told that the word “pupil” in the SB725 language means a K12 student so it is different from an Adult student. But then I read the original law for Cahsee requirement and it says “pupils”. So does that mean that only pupils of K12 were the only one who were ever only required to pass a Cahsee. uhmmmmm

    I believe when I complete my courses , if I am denied a diploma for this year 2015 and not granted the same waiver under SB725, for the year 2015. It will be a violation of my 14th Amendment rights of equal protection under the Constitution, since i like the 2015 K12 pupils have like requirements for the same diploma and both were deprived of July 2015 test.

    EQUAL PROTECTION: a guarantee under the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution that a state must treat an individual or class of individuals the same as it treats other individuals or classes in like circumstances.

    I plan on finishing in Oct. If then I am denied a 2015 diploma, I think I should file a complaint and then call the ACLU.

  13. Sonia tinoco 9 years ago9 years ago

    What about 2008 ? I had all my credits done at my high school but did not pass the cashee

    Replies

  14. Joan Mingori 9 years ago9 years ago

    What happens to the many bilingual who did not pass the exit exam in the calendar year 2013-2014. Many are attending community colleges to continue to grow, but have yet been able to pass the English portion of the exam. Will they be exempt too?

    And… how soon will schools know if they will be hosting the October exam. Schedules need to be put into place.

    Joan Mingori, Lower Lake High School

  15. Rhyanna 9 years ago9 years ago

    I definitely agree with T.L. I know for a fact I deserve my diploma I received ALL of my high school credits I'm done with school but the only thing holding me back from graduating is the exit exam I've studied I've got help from tutors and still nothing helps. I seriously think that test is no point some of the stuff on that test my teachers never taught it to me. I went to … Read More

    I definitely agree with T.L. I know for a fact I deserve my diploma I received ALL of my high school credits I’m done with school but the only thing holding me back from graduating is the exit exam I’ve studied I’ve got help from tutors and still nothing helps. I seriously think that test is no point some of the stuff on that test my teachers never taught it to me. I went to a continuation school and none of them helped me with my work just gave me a packet and I had to learn the stuff on my own. It’s definitely not fair for the ones that didn’t get help cause of our lazy teachers. After all the hard work we do to pass this test and still nothing. I just hope I can get my diploma soon.

  16. Marcielle 9 years ago9 years ago

    When I was in school, we took the tests our teachers created. I think that is preferable to any
    standardized test. I did not test well on those standardized tests, and it affected which teaching jobs I could get, and yet I am now a respected and sought-after professor.

    Jeb Bush and friends made a huge amount of money pressuring schools to buy these tests.
    http://fcnp.com/2015/04/22/jeb-bush-wrecked-education-in-florida/

    Marcielle Brandler, author, poet, filmmaker

  17. Nikki 9 years ago9 years ago

    Students prior to 2015 need answers also. Some of us have been trying to get our diploma and at the time finished all graduation requirements except passing
    Either one or both cahsee exams. There was no limit on how many times you can retake the test after your school year is over, we diserve our diploma as well.

  18. T.L. 9 years ago9 years ago

    I have received all of my high school credits and because of that exit exam I could not receive my high school diploma,I was off a few points and they refused to help, I remember being told, that because I didn't pass the exam I was not ready to graduate ....what kind of disrespectful saying is that??? I deserve my high school diploma. I went to school and night school and stayed for tutoring, it … Read More

    I have received all of my high school credits and because of that exit exam I could not receive my high school diploma,I was off a few points and they refused to help, I remember being told, that because I didn’t pass the exam I was not ready to graduate ….what kind of disrespectful saying is that??? I deserve my high school diploma. I went to school and night school and stayed for tutoring, it just was not fair because I tried so hard and I feel like I deserve my diploma, and many WILL agree with me.

  19. lucy 9 years ago9 years ago

    When will 2015 seniors have an answer to this? They need to just be given diplomas if they qualified with credits!

  20. Anon 9 years ago9 years ago

    This exit exam is BS.
    I finished all my credits for highschool after moving from IL to CA and I cannot get my high school diploma until November..I finished my credits in May.

  21. Sandra M. Harrington 9 years ago9 years ago

    My student Chad finished the requirements to graduate 2014 but he did not passed the CAHSEE exam. In the year 2015, he treid again and he did not pass either. Where does he stand ? He did all the requiriments and credits. He even walked on stage with his cap in gown. and got his KERN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA FOLDER. empty umtil he passes the exam. I even have pictures of the graduation. … Read More

    My student Chad finished the requirements to graduate 2014 but he did not passed the CAHSEE exam. In the year 2015, he treid again and he did not pass either. Where does he stand ? He did all the requiriments and credits. He even walked on stage with his cap in gown. and got his KERN HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA FOLDER. empty umtil he passes the exam. I even have pictures of the graduation. Now, there is not test and no way to figure out where does he stand? He did 5 years of high school isn”t that enought? I do understand that some students did not finish the requirements neither pass the test but Chad has. He did finished all the credits.

    Replies

    • Sarah Tully 9 years ago9 years ago

      Sandra,
      Thank you for writing. Do you think Chad would like to speak with me for a follow-up story? Please contact me at stully@edsource.org.
      Sarah

  22. Christopher 9 years ago9 years ago

    Hi I have a question I graduated in 2007 in Santa Barbara county. I passed my math portion of the exit exam but failed the English does the new law effect me or what do I have to do so I can get my diploma?

    Replies

    • Sarah Tully 9 years ago9 years ago

      Hi Christopher,

      This is a good question without a good answer. I asked the legislative folks about this. The bill at this point does not include people in your situation. It only addresses the suspension for 2014-15 and beyond. Please contact me offline and I will keep trying to get some answers: stully@edsource.org. Thank you!

      Sarah

      • Brie 9 years ago9 years ago

        Same here. But I didn’t pass the math part only the English in 09. They gave me a Certificate of Completion instead. I would really Just like it get my diploma. I feel like I deserve it cause I was so close to passing the math portion. Took it way to many times. Please let me know how I can attain my diploma.

        • Nikki 9 years ago9 years ago

          Im in the same boat brie my school year was 2012 and i also received a certificate of completion.

      • Theresa 9 years ago9 years ago

        I think this is not fair I was a 2007. I have all my credit but because of the cahee I can’t get my diploma. I pass the Math but not the English I deserve my diploma.

        • Kim 8 years ago8 years ago

          I do agree with some people here... It is not fair that us 2006-2014 has to take the exam and now that it no longer required we can't get our diploma. We deserve our diploma too I graduate in 2007 and got all my credit but just because I did not pass the English because I'm a bilingual student I did not received my diploma and I can't even go to college and don't even … Read More

          I do agree with some people here… It is not fair that us 2006-2014 has to take the exam and now that it no longer required we can’t get our diploma. We deserve our diploma too I graduate in 2007 and got all my credit but just because I did not pass the English because I’m a bilingual student I did not received my diploma and I can’t even go to college and don’t even have a good job because of not having a diploma…. We deserve to get our diploma as well. This is not fair at all….

    • isabel 9 years ago9 years ago

      There is not answers for students who cannot graduated before 2014… we have to wait at least into October 11.2015

  23. Don 9 years ago9 years ago

    Floyd, the way I see it, if the public schools are going to green light students through elementary, middle and high school regardless of academics, it is a cruel joke to then tell them after 13 years that they cannot graduate for having failed to pass a single test even though they have attained the credits needed to graduate. As CAHSEE is actually testing around a 8th to 10th grade level, base-line academic … Read More

    Floyd, the way I see it, if the public schools are going to green light students through elementary, middle and high school regardless of academics, it is a cruel joke to then tell them after 13 years that they cannot graduate for having failed to pass a single test even though they have attained the credits needed to graduate. As CAHSEE is actually testing around a 8th to 10th grade level, base-line academic standing has lost any meaning. Then there are some kids who just can’t pass a test, though they are doing OK in school. I wouldn’t attached any academic significance to a high school diploma.

  24. Gary Ravani 9 years ago9 years ago

    From the article; "'I believe we should have a minimum skills test before they graduate,' Kim said." News flash for Assemblywoman Kim: Kids will take dozens of tests to ascertain both students' "basic skills" and "higher order skills" in all subjects. These will be tests based on exactly what the kids are taught in their various classes and constructed by the teachers who taught them. There is not a shred of legitimate research to indicate that … Read More

    From the article; “‘I believe we should have a minimum skills test before they graduate,’ Kim said.”

    News flash for Assemblywoman Kim: Kids will take dozens of tests to ascertain both students’ “basic skills” and “higher order skills” in all subjects. These will be tests based on exactly what the kids are taught in their various classes and constructed by the teachers who taught them.

    There is not a shred of legitimate research to indicate that the classroom based tests need to be second-guessed by a commercially constructed multiple choice test. There are a plethora of anecdotal statements and op/eds based on urban myths that suggest to the contrary.

    There is solid research (see National Research Council) that HS exit exams have: 1) had no positive effects on learning; 2) that they have had an adverse effect on HS graduation particularly for disadvantages students’ and, 3) the negative effects on HS graduation have been especially egregious for Hispanic females (see Stanford U research).

  25. FloydThursby1941 9 years ago9 years ago

    Has anyone actually looked at this test? Standards changed slightly, but most kids pass as Sophomores. The only kids failing this test are kids who are not trying at all, consistently don't do homework, don't read much at all, don't sign up for tutoring. This test is not very difficult. They are looking for any excuse they can find and finding outliers. The seeking out of obscure disabilities to kill … Read More

    Has anyone actually looked at this test? Standards changed slightly, but most kids pass as Sophomores. The only kids failing this test are kids who are not trying at all, consistently don’t do homework, don’t read much at all, don’t sign up for tutoring. This test is not very difficult. They are looking for any excuse they can find and finding outliers. The seeking out of obscure disabilities to kill the test reminds me of the Republicans trying to defend against inheritance tax by trying to find one family farmer to represent all the wealthy trust fund kids who would benefit to make it seem like there were run of the mill victims. Nonsense. We need to make a diploma mean something. There are kids graduating 4-5 years behind in reading. They don’t deserve a diploma if they have not done the work. Sitting in class spacing out and going home to your gameboy or TV doesn’t merit a diploma. A diploma should only go to those who are at a 12th Grade level by the end of 12th grade, and due to social promotion we need an independent exam. We can’t keep telling people who didn’t reach 9th grade intellectual levels their behavior was OK and they deserve a high school diploma. It does them and our economy a disservice.

    Replies

    • Jonathan Perry 9 years ago9 years ago

      Floyd: The two groups having the most problem passing the CAHSEE are Special Education students and English Language Learners. Your comment "The only kids failing this test are kids who are not trying at all, consistently don’t do homework, don’t read much at all, don’t sign up for tutoring" is factually incorrect. These two groups, especially the Special Day Class students I teach, are trying their best, are attending school, are doing … Read More

      Floyd: The two groups having the most problem passing the CAHSEE are Special Education students and English Language Learners. Your comment “The only kids failing this test are kids who are not trying at all, consistently don’t do homework, don’t read much at all, don’t sign up for tutoring” is factually incorrect. These two groups, especially the Special Day Class students I teach, are trying their best, are attending school, are doing their homework, and are getting tutoring. It’s true they don’t read much, but that is because they, for the most part, are only able to read at a second grade or third grade level. This is due to their learning disabilities, their autism, their traumatic brain injuries, their speech and language delays, etc. English Language Learners also have a hard time with the test because of the time it takes to become proficient at a second language. Had these two groups been exempted from the test, I might agree with you (to a point). Having worked with special education students for fifteen years, in both middle and high school, and having been employed in schools with very large ELL populations for nearly that long, I feel that your statement is a disservice to both of these groups.

      • FloydThursby1941 9 years ago9 years ago

        An exception should be made for disabled students but the test should be harder for others. Also, immigrants need to learn English so they can go to another year or two of English Immersion. Many people get a diploma and are not very educated at all. Also, reading gets better with effort. If you read for hours a day you tend to get better at it. If you get frustrated and turn on a TV, improvement stops.

  26. Monty Neill 9 years ago9 years ago

    It should pass. The only flaw is the ban is not permanent. Much research, summarized by the National Academy of Sciences, concludes that high school exit tests do not lead to students better prepared for college or work, but do increase the dropout rates. Non-graduates are less likely to be employed or have stable families, earn less, and are more likely to be in prison. There are tens of thousands of Californians who have been … Read More

    It should pass. The only flaw is the ban is not permanent. Much research, summarized by the National Academy of Sciences, concludes that high school exit tests do not lead to students better prepared for college or work, but do increase the dropout rates. Non-graduates are less likely to be employed or have stable families, earn less, and are more likely to be in prison. There are tens of thousands of Californians who have been denied a diploma based on test scores. Time to let science and humane behavior override the myth that high stakes tests will improve education.

    Replies

    • Bruce William Smith 9 years ago9 years ago

      The problem is that the stakes and the standards have been too low for a long time, and the Common Core won't solve that problem. Neither the Common Core nor the previous California standards tests come remotely close to preparing youth for careers: compare the hundreds of different specific occupations German apprenticeships lead to with the nowhere destination Californians arrive at on the day after receiving their high school diplomas. Nor does a high school … Read More

      The problem is that the stakes and the standards have been too low for a long time, and the Common Core won’t solve that problem. Neither the Common Core nor the previous California standards tests come remotely close to preparing youth for careers: compare the hundreds of different specific occupations German apprenticeships lead to with the nowhere destination Californians arrive at on the day after receiving their high school diplomas. Nor does a high school diploma certify readiness for college: one need only examine the highest tertiary dropout rate in the world, found right here in the United States, to recognize the failure of past efforts, largely due to weak certification tied to a lack of tangible reward, with virtually no student benefits being awarded to Californians who earn the virtually worthless diplomas that continue to be handed out with much fakery and hoopla every June; and the Common Core, even if achieved without legislators further caving in to the eternal popularity of weak standards for everyone as is happening again here, only certifies readiness for junior college, which will hardly motivate any teen to study hard.

      By contrast, if California had a matriculation certificate earned via a comprehensive examination after completing a university college preparatory course, such a certificate leading to tuition-free three-year bachelor’s degrees, which is standard practice in northern Europe and which One World College is proposing, Californians would have a real incentive to study hard to become real students, solving all of these problems at once.

      • Gary Ravani 9 years ago9 years ago

        Bruce: You have mixed apples and Aardvarks as well as answered your own key question here. You are not talking about academic standards when you discuss German apprenticeship programs. You are talking about industrial arts programs (or whatever the current acronym is) that have been drastically cut in CA…mostly to increase classes in the A-G category and demand more academics for students. And the programs had costs attached. Your last paragraph explains high drop out rates for college … Read More

        Bruce:

        You have mixed apples and Aardvarks as well as answered your own key question here.

        You are not talking about academic standards when you discuss German apprenticeship programs. You are talking about industrial arts programs (or whatever the current acronym is) that have been drastically cut in CA…mostly to increase classes in the A-G category and demand more academics for students. And the programs had costs attached.

        Your last paragraph explains high drop out rates for college in the US. It’s that almost everywhere, CA in particular, state support for college has been cut and costs for students has increased dramatically. It is not related to academic issues, though our community college system was intended to support students gaining academic skills for 4 year college, but that too has been severely curtailed. Again for cost reasons though, more lofty “goals” are tossed around. Yes we should have free college for all who qualify, though one test should never be used to “sort” students, and that discussion along with the student debt crisis is going on all over the country.

        If all this sounds to you like a growing potential education gap that will directly parallel the disparity in income gap, you would be right on target.

        I’m not sure what CCSS has to do with any of these issues.

        • Gary Ravani 9 years ago9 years ago

          Oh, and while I am at it it should be remembered that the US is nearly back to being the #1 most competitive economy in the world with the world's (nearly) most productive workforce. We, and the economy, didn't get that way because the workforce is "undereducated." The US was #1 for years and years in its competitiveness, and when it dropped to # 7 (or so) it had nothing to do with education or … Read More

          Oh, and while I am at it it should be remembered that the US is nearly back to being the #1 most competitive economy in the world with the world’s (nearly) most productive workforce. We, and the economy, didn’t get that way because the workforce is “undereducated.”

          The US was #1 for years and years in its competitiveness, and when it dropped to # 7 (or so) it had nothing to do with education or productivity of workers. It had to do with misfeasance and malfeasance in the financial sector. It was all those guys and gals with Harvard MBAs who led us over the brink. It must have something to do with poor education in the moral sphere that explains it all. We need to reform those business departments in the Ivy League, pronto! There’s a crisis in the schools!