Theresa Harrington
Richmond High students talk about their options after the July exit exam was cancelled.
Theresa Harrington
Richmond High students talk about their options after the July exit exam was cancelled.
Theresa Harrington
August 24, 2015
70 Comments

This story has been updated to include a statement from Gov. Jerry Brown’s office.

The state Senate on Monday unanimously approved SB 725, which would remove passing the California High School Exit Exam as a graduation requirement for the class of 2015, and the governor plans to sign it.

The Senate also approved an urgency clause that would allow the bill to go into effect immediately, if the governor signs it. Both votes were 38­-0. Gov. Jerry Brown has 12 days to act on any bill that reaches his desk this week. He plans to sign the bill, said his Deputy Press Secretary Deborah Hoffman in an e-mail.

“Students who’ve been accepted into college should not be prevented from starting class this fall because of a test cancellation they could not control,” she said. “The Governor will sign this bill to ensure these students begin their college careers.”

Sen. Loni Hancock, D­-Oakland, who gutted and amended a bill that previously dealt with visual and performing arts, urged her colleagues to support the legislation to allow students who completed all other graduation requirements to receive their diplomas, since the July administration of the test was canceled.

Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Oakland

Courtesy of Sen. Loni Hancock

Sen. Loni Hancock, D-Oakland

“We want to support our young people moving forward with their lives,” she said, adding that the bill had no formal opposition and received strong bipartisan support in the Assembly, where it passed 77­-1. In addition, the bill was supported by school districts, educational organizations and businesses throughout the state, she said.

Sen. Carol Liu, D­-Canada Flintridge, said a bill she has authored – SB 172 – will address the future of the exit exam, since the state Department of Education has not yet contracted for another test.

“Students who have not passed have no way to meet the graduation requirement,” she said. “They should not suffer due to a lack of opportunity.”

Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff, R­-San Dimas, and Sen. Jim Nielsen, R­-Gerber, criticized the abrupt decision to cancel the July test, which left thousands of students in limbo.

“It’s mind­blowing to me that this even happened,” Huff said. “We need to act swiftly to update the exit exam.”

Huff said he strongly opposes Liu’s bill because he does not want to return to the days of coursework without assessments of math and language arts competency. Nielsen echoed Huff’s concerns, saying he does not want to get rid of testing.

“If test scores don’t go up, what we do is we stop testing,” he said. “And now, we’re doing it again.”

Nielsen said he wanted to know who cancelled the test and why, adding that the “perpetrators” should be punished.

“They need to be known by name to all of us,” he said. “Is that available?”

Hancock said the state’s $11 million testing contract expired. She urged the Senate to pass Liu’s bill when it is heard to allow the Legislature to look at how to develop a test with multiple measures aligned to new Common Core standards.

“The California High School Exit Exam as it exists doesn’t test what we’re teaching,” Hancock said. “I think this is what government does when it works well. We find a problem. We fix the problem. We do it in a bipartisan way. We stand by our kids.”

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  1. kalia 7 years ago7 years ago

    What if i got all my credits but now am in a different state? If I contact my high school, would they be able to send my diploma to me or do I have to go pick it up? Just wondering how this works. Is there a website where I could go to apply to get my diploma?

    Replies

    • Fermin Leal 7 years ago7 years ago

      Kaila, your best bet is to call the school district from where you graduated. Each district has different policies for how they award the retroactive diplomas. Your district should be able to provide you with that information.

  2. Fabian 7 years ago7 years ago

    What if you graduated class of 06? Do you still qualified for the diploma?

    Replies

    • Theresa Harrington 7 years ago7 years ago

      Fabian: Yes, as long as you completed all of the courses required for graduation. Contact your school or district to get your diploma.

  3. Dee 8 years ago8 years ago

    I attended Liberty High School in Paso Robles California while I was attending there I failed to pass the Cahsee. But I did complete all my credits with that my counselor told me I graduated. But then I couldn't get a hold of my diploma cause I failed my cahse . Its been about three years and I have been contacting the school but no respond. I really want to work but of course … Read More

    I attended Liberty High School in Paso Robles California while I was attending there I failed to pass the Cahsee. But I did complete all my credits with that my counselor told me I graduated. But then I couldn’t get a hold of my diploma cause I failed my cahse . Its been about three years and I have been contacting the school but no respond. I really want to work but of course you do need your diploma to even apply for a job. How can I get my diploma? Can I pay for it to get it? Please I really need it .

    Replies

    • Theresa Harrington 8 years ago8 years ago

      Contact your school and explain your situation. You are entitled to receive your diploma as of Jan. 1, according to the law that was recently signed by the governor. If you get no response from your school, contact your school district office. Every district in the state should be aware of this new law.

  4. Magi 8 years ago8 years ago

    I think suspending the exit exam is wrong. Yes a lot of student pass their class with good grades but many times they don't even know the difference between their there and they're or their time tables. If they really want to graduate, if it's important to you, you should study more. I believe it's a students responsibility to study and retake and keep trying. The exit exam is not difficult, and should remain … Read More

    I think suspending the exit exam is wrong. Yes a lot of student pass their class with good grades but many times they don’t even know the difference between their there and they’re or their time tables. If they really want to graduate, if it’s important to you, you should study more. I believe it’s a students responsibility to study and retake and keep trying. The exit exam is not difficult, and should remain a requirement.

  5. Jen R 8 years ago8 years ago

    So I am class of 2017. I’ve always been trying my BEST to studying, doing homework, everything. When I was a Sophomore taking the Cahsee test, I got the results. I didn’t pass either… I was so mad at myself, but it was things I wasn’t taught either. So I was wondering, if this is passed, can I still get my HS diploma when I graduate or what do we get/do?

    Replies

  6. april jones 8 years ago8 years ago

    Hi I live in Stockton can, and I I was wondering if they have it here too? And whom can I contact?

    Replies

    • Theresa Harrington 8 years ago8 years ago

      Yes, this is a statewide law. You can contact your school district office.

  7. Gecon 8 years ago8 years ago

    I graduated in 2011 I have all credits that the school required but since I didn’t pass my English chasee test I didnt get my diploma. And I need my diploma to join the military
    That’s all I need my diploma. Please gov. Jerry sign this bill for us for the people willing to do better things and maybe this people can change the world into a better place.

  8. shawn 8 years ago8 years ago

    What about the people from 2005 do we still get a Diploma

  9. sandria 8 years ago8 years ago

    I graduated in 2007 with great grades but didn’t pass the math part. I missed it by 5 points!!!!!! This is not fair at all. Plus the math part in the exam doesn’t even cover stuff we even learned at school. Would I still qualify to get my hs diploma???

    Replies

  10. porshe 8 years ago8 years ago

    what if you graduated in 2006? Are you able to go back to the district office to receive a high school diploma and not an certificate of completion? I believe it should go for everybody and not just 2015 students.

  11. sara 8 years ago8 years ago

    Hi, I graduated on 2011 with no diploma because I didn’t pass the Englis portion of the exit exam. I met all the requirements for the graduation except that. So am I able to get it? I was new immigrant. English was for me.

    Replies

  12. Virginia 8 years ago8 years ago

    What about the students who did pass do we get extra credits to graduating as well?

    Replies

    • Theresa Harrington 8 years ago8 years ago

      Students who passed the CAHSEE must still meet all other graduation requirements, including credit requirements, to receive diplomas.

  13. Jennifer 8 years ago8 years ago

    My daughter has completed all her high school credits however she took the California high school exit exam failed it by 2 point I find it ridiculous how she has met her high school credit requirements and she won’t get her diploma till she passes the exit exam and is with holding her from attending a vocational LVN school to continue her education what will happen next

    Replies

  14. Marie 8 years ago8 years ago

    I been told that SB 725 was intended for the "pupil" for the 2014-15 , they say that means a K12 child in a regular high school student. But they may give it to Adult students only if they were enrolled in 2014-15 school year. SB 725 says, Notwithstanding any other law, the high school exit examination shall not be required as a condition of receiving a diploma … Read More

    I been told that SB 725 was intended for the “pupil” for the 2014-15 , they say that means a K12 child in a regular high school student. But they may give it to Adult students only if they were enrolled in 2014-15 school year.

    SB 725 says, 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.

    The original code for the 2003-05 school year that makes the exit exam a requirement says 60851. (a) Commencing with the 2003-04 school year and each school year thereafter, each pupil completing grade 12 shall successfully pass the high school exit examination as a condition of receiving a diploma of graduation or a condition of graduation from high school.

    Funny to me that they say that SB725 does not apply to Adult students seeking there diplomas . I read the bill SB 725 and it uses the word ” pupil ” . since the Dept is claiming that ” pupil ” means K12 student, then they must use that definition in all codes , therefore under the original code only ” pupils ” that were K12 ever had the requirement for their diploma and not it would not apply to Adult ed students seeking their diplomas since they are not “pupils. What do you think?

  15. Martha 8 years ago8 years ago

    What happens to those students who finish all credits, but need 1 or both of the CAHSEE exams? We have told them if they apply to Adult School they can take the test 1 or nore times to see if they pass then if they do they can get their HS diploma. Now when they enroll at Adult school to take the CAHSEE, it is not available. Our Alternative Schools are … Read More

    What happens to those students who finish all credits, but need 1 or both of the CAHSEE exams? We have told them if they apply to Adult School they can take the test 1 or nore times to see if they pass then if they do they can get their HS diploma. Now when they enroll at Adult school to take the CAHSEE, it is not available. Our Alternative Schools are facing this dilemma. We are receiving phone calls from various students as to what will happen to them?

    Replies

    • John R Harris 8 years ago8 years ago

      Martha - it's partly a question of sitting and waiting for the Governor's signature, but schools/districts should use this time to sketch plans for what to do when/if he does. We know that not all schools have yet begun the task of contacting their 14-15 students, nor processing their code changes, transcript revisions nor diploma requests etc - and last year's students will be the easier ones. What about the students who left in 09-10, … Read More

      Martha – it’s partly a question of sitting and waiting for the Governor’s signature, but schools/districts should use this time to sketch plans for what to do when/if he does. We know that not all schools have yet begun the task of contacting their 14-15 students, nor processing their code changes, transcript revisions nor diploma requests etc – and last year’s students will be the easier ones. What about the students who left in 09-10, or 07-08 ? Who will contact them, or will schools transfer the onus and only make changes if the student initiates the contact ? If signed, this bill will incur a major body of work in most school front offices. Are we ready for that ? Two things :

      Students – contact your former schools ! Ensure that they know who you are and where you are, and ensure they have your correct, current contact details !

      Schools – although this is still ‘if’, if the bill is signed, who will do what, and when, and how ? (And will you service the task, or will you wait to be asked ?)

      We know how many students could be positively affected if this legislation is signed. However, if it is signed, perhaps a truer mark of our character would be the number of diplomas we issue in the aftermath.

  16. Mikki 8 years ago8 years ago

    I completed my coursework in 2009.Due to disability now considered permanent, i i was unable to take the exit exam.Recently I looked into the dates and location of the exam in my desire to complete my long desired High School diploma.I learned that the exit exam had been canceled.Hopefully the doors will open soon for me to receive my diploma.If u hear chearing,that’s me included!

  17. MO 8 years ago8 years ago

    What about students who met all high school criteria in 2007, only to receive a certificate of completion? I have taken that stupid math portion about 16+ times all together since 2007 and for some absurd reason I can not seem to pass it only by a couple points off. I am done trying and have tried moving on with my life but it eventually always goes back to needed that piece of paper. I … Read More

    What about students who met all high school criteria in 2007, only to receive a certificate of completion? I have taken that stupid math portion about 16+ times all together since 2007 and for some absurd reason I can not seem to pass it only by a couple points off. I am done trying and have tried moving on with my life but it eventually always goes back to needed that piece of paper. I can’t even get my diploma with my alma mater, it has to be with the adult school, only after taking MORE classes with them or just giving up and taking the entire GED test. I am 26 years old, trying to move on with my life. Who can I get in contact with regarding this? 8 years is a long time of anxiety and depression this ridiculous test has caused.

    Replies

    • Theresa Harrington 8 years ago8 years ago

      The Legislature has passed a bill that would allow you and others who met all the criteria except for passing the exam to receive your diploma: http://edsource.org/2015/bill-allowing-diplomas-for-students-who-failed-exit-exam-goes-to-governor/86521

      However, the governor has not yet signed it. You can contact your local school district to let them know you want the diploma if the governor signs the bill. You can also contact the governor’s office to let them know about your situation at: https://govnews.ca.gov/gov39mail/mail.php

    • John R Harris 8 years ago8 years ago

      MO - contact your former school and districts and ensure they have your correct current name, address, enrollment dates and contact details. No-one knows exactly when this bill will be signed but if/when it is schools cannot get diplomas and revised transcripts to those they cannot contact - (disadvantaging once more the same highly-mobile, predominantly low-income students who were most affected by the introduction of the test to begin with). Make sure the school(s) knows … Read More

      MO – contact your former school and districts and ensure they have your correct current name, address, enrollment dates and contact details. No-one knows exactly when this bill will be signed but if/when it is schools cannot get diplomas and revised transcripts to those they cannot contact – (disadvantaging once more the same highly-mobile, predominantly low-income students who were most affected by the introduction of the test to begin with). Make sure the school(s) knows who/where you are ! Good luck

  18. Oscar 8 years ago8 years ago

    I have all my credits since hs i passed the english cahsee but not the math part im class 0f 2009 i hope i csn receive my diploma and move forward with my life its keeping me from applying to the chp academy thanks

  19. Carol 8 years ago8 years ago

    I’m 23 years old I didn’t pass either exam. Continue studying to take the test again. I have all my requirements to receive my diploma. To Success a better life without a diploma you can’t get anywhere in life. I’m class of 2010 I would like for this law to pass.

  20. juan 8 years ago8 years ago

    This is the correct thing to do I am 23 years old and never pass my high school exit exam if they going to cancel the exit exam I think I should get my high school diploma because I did all my credits I graduated with completion credits but never got my diploma because I never pass the high school exit exam for me that was a really hard test to do it was not … Read More

    This is the correct thing to do I am 23 years old and never pass my high school exit exam if they going to cancel the exit exam I think I should get my high school diploma because I did all my credits I graduated with completion credits but never got my diploma because I never pass the high school exit exam for me that was a really hard test to do it was not easy right now I am going to MiraCosta college to get my high school diploma but I think I should not be doing this I should be going to college to study business is not fair that I completed all my credits and the other requirements for my credit to be completed and couldn’t go to college because of my high school diploma I wanted to join the Marines but couldn’t do it because I didn’t, high school diploma because I did not past the high school exit exam everyone here deserve a second chance to get what they want I think that test is not right for a lot of people that think that high school exit exam is really hard for them

  21. Parent 8 years ago8 years ago

    Kids passing with A’s but cant pass the simple CASHEE test?
    I guess grades are a joke and no indicator of a students ability nor a teacher effectiveness.
    There should be an investigation of students who got good grades but failed the CASHEE. We have a paper trail. If the student got an A or passed a class that they shouldn’t have then that teacher should be prosecuted and sent to prison for wire fraud.

  22. Tina 8 years ago8 years ago

    I got all my requiring credits to graduate and pass my English part of the test and missed the math part by a few. I was in enrolled in adult school. So I qualify to get my diaploma. I believe I was enroll in adult school in 2010

    Replies

  23. stacy garcia 8 years ago8 years ago

    I graduated in 2011. I passed all my classes with A's but did not pass the math part of the Cahsee. Ever since i haven't been able to sign up for college because i don't have my doploma. The Cahsee has held me back with so many opportunities i been passing since i don't have my diploma. Is there a possibility that former students like me with the same problems will be able to get … Read More

    I graduated in 2011. I passed all my classes with A’s but did not pass the math part of the Cahsee. Ever since i haven’t been able to sign up for college because i don’t have my doploma. The Cahsee has held me back with so many opportunities i been passing since i don’t have my diploma. Is there a possibility that former students like me with the same problems will be able to get the diploma too?
    If so where and how do i do it for me to be able to get my diploma?

    Replies

    • FloydThursby1941 8 years ago8 years ago

      Why not pass the GED and go to Junior College? Or go to night school? There are so many opportunities. You're making it sound like you are very diligent, and were treated unfairly, but how hard did you study math in high school? Since you are saying this, please post in 5 years and let us know your college GPA and how you did, where you graduated from. If this … Read More

      Why not pass the GED and go to Junior College? Or go to night school? There are so many opportunities. You’re making it sound like you are very diligent, and were treated unfairly, but how hard did you study math in high school? Since you are saying this, please post in 5 years and let us know your college GPA and how you did, where you graduated from. If this is an injustice surely you will have a good GPA in college now that this has been cleared up. Please let us know.

  24. Vanessa Ramirez 8 years ago8 years ago

    So am I allowed to get my diploma now ? I missed it by 4 Class of 2015

    Replies

    • Theresa Harrington 8 years ago8 years ago

      Yes, if you have met all other graduation requirements. Contact your district to pick it up and get a copy of your transcript showing your date of graduation. Congrats!

  25. Rose 8 years ago8 years ago

    Hi I'am a 11th grade girl who failed the English and Math exit exam in 10th grade. This year I'am now attending English and Math exit exam improvement classes because of it. I thought I did my best on both of the test but I was only disappointed in myself at the end. I know there are a few chances to redo this test again but I feel like we go through all of those … Read More

    Hi I’am a 11th grade girl who failed the English and Math exit exam in 10th grade. This year I’am now attending English and Math exit exam improvement classes because of it. I thought I did my best on both of the test but I was only disappointed in myself at the end. I know there are a few chances to redo this test again but I feel like we go through all of those dedicated years of school and just because of the exit exams at the end, if we fail, it ruins it all for us to those who don’t meet the academic test scores and from graduating school.

    Replies

    • Theresa Harrington 8 years ago8 years ago

      Rose, If the governor signs a bill passed by the Senate today, you will not have to take the exit exam to graduate. Stay tuned!

  26. Christopher rhyne 8 years ago8 years ago

    Hi I haven’t received my diploma from 2007 a didn’t pass the English part of the exit exam will this involve me

    Replies

    • Theresa Harrington 8 years ago8 years ago

      It could, if the bill is passed as amended. Stay tuned.

  27. Sofia 8 years ago8 years ago

    My son is one of this students, he wants to enroll in the Marines but he can’t due to this issue. Please find a solution ASAP, their lives are really on hold, is not fair.

  28. Gary Ravani 8 years ago8 years ago

    BTW:

    Is EdSource upgrading its web page, or are the articles of note and very limited comments section gone forever?

    Replies

    • John C. Osborn 8 years ago8 years ago

      Could you clarify? The comments section is still here, and I’m not sure what you mean by “articles of note.”

      • Gary Ravani 8 years ago8 years ago

        John:

        For some reasons the two sets of previous articles, the four comments re articles now allowed, and the twitter sections do not appear on my computer.

        • John C. Osborn 8 years ago8 years ago

          Ah gotcha. We’re playing around with getting rid of the sidebar on article pages to create more breathing room. We are working on several design mods here and there which we are rolling out gradually.

          Did you find the sidebar of value?

          • Gary Ravani 8 years ago8 years ago

            Yes, I did; however, there seems to be an effort afoot to limit the comments section which made it difficult to follow various strings of discussion. My assumption is that was the intent. And, now, it’s gone altogether. I know previous articles can be retrieved via the search engine, but that lacks convenience and inhibits the flow of the commentary. But, again, maybe the commentary was flowing a bit too freely (often at floodstage)? Is there a replacement in mind?

            • Don 8 years ago8 years ago

              It would help if the comment sidebar showed more than 4 comments. Thanks for asking.

            • el 8 years ago8 years ago

              Agree with Don that having more recent comments in the sidebar would encourage me to both read and write more often. Without the comments, there’s not much point in checking EdSource more than once a week, and with only four, recent comments are easily missed. I feel bad about writing this comment, because it pushes something more interesting out of that list.

            • John C. Osborn 8 years ago8 years ago

              Gary, the only change we made to our comments system was to auto-truncate comments that are longer than 80 words, meaning that visually you will only see an excerpt of the full comment. All comments longer than 80 words can be expanded individually by clicking on the comment, or you can expand all comments at once at the top of the comments section (thanks El for the suggestion). This was the compromise we came up with … Read More

              Gary, the only change we made to our comments system was to auto-truncate comments that are longer than 80 words, meaning that visually you will only see an excerpt of the full comment. All comments longer than 80 words can be expanded individually by clicking on the comment, or you can expand all comments at once at the top of the comments section (thanks El for the suggestion).

              This was the compromise we came up with to deal with extremely long comments visually overwhelming the comments section, something people in our comments survey noted as a problem. The alternative would have been imposing a mandatory word limit on comments, but several of us fought against that idea, because you should all be free to have conversations as long as they are civic.

              Thanks Don, El, and Gary for the feedback on the “Recent Comments” tab. I’ll expand the number of comments on the home page and mull over ways to better integrate that feature with article pages.

              Cheers~

            • el 8 years ago8 years ago

              Ooooh, “Expand Comments”!! I’m so happy, thank you! 🙂

            • John C. Osborn 8 years ago8 years ago

              No problem ;D

            • Gary Ravani 8 years ago8 years ago

              John:

              I don’t see how your comment addresses the side bar issue. The side bar included links to recent articles that were being commented on and it had the (truncated) list of latest comments re the articles easily available. What you noted about comments themselves has been the case for some time. Are you sidestepping the issue here? Are we to conclude the sidebar has been “disappeared” by Ed Source?

            • John C. Osborn 8 years ago8 years ago

              No sidestepping here, Gary. As I said in my comment above, we're experimenting with removing the sidebar on article pages to create more breathing room, more specifically creating white space to make it easier to read articles. Nothing nefarious about it, just experimenting with aesthetics. The experimenting part involves getting feedback from the regulars like yourself. I understand several commenters find value in the "Recent Comments" widget. This kind of feedback will help me find … Read More

              No sidestepping here, Gary.

              As I said in my comment above, we’re experimenting with removing the sidebar on article pages to create more breathing room, more specifically creating white space to make it easier to read articles. Nothing nefarious about it, just experimenting with aesthetics.

              The experimenting part involves getting feedback from the regulars like yourself. I understand several commenters find value in the “Recent Comments” widget. This kind of feedback will help me find a solution that incorporates the features on the website readers enjoy.

              Feel free to share any other feedback you have with the recent design changes. 😀

              Cheers~

            • navigio 8 years ago8 years ago

              the sidebar is still there, it’s just empty. would that be the change in aesthetics?

      • Don 8 years ago8 years ago

        John Osborn: Regarding the comments section layout, if Ed Source want to minimize the space taken up by comments on the main page , why not be able to select a comment page that shows the title of most recent articles with a few of most recent comments truncated below. And from there one could select the article and comments as desired.This would be the go-to place for those who want to follow comments and … Read More

        John Osborn: Regarding the comments section layout, if Ed Source want to minimize the space taken up by comments on the main page , why not be able to select a comment page that shows the title of most recent articles with a few of most recent comments truncated below. And from there one could select the article and comments as desired.This would be the go-to place for those who want to follow comments and also allow Ed Source to allocate less space to it on the home page.

        • John C. Osborn 8 years ago8 years ago

          Hey Don,

          Actually I’ve been toying with an idea similar to the one you mention, kind of a landing page for all comments on the website. Still needs some work, however.

          Cheers~

  29. Gary Ravani 8 years ago8 years ago

    CAHSEE, as well as the CSTs, are yesterday’s news. Time to move on and get some legitimate assessments that are more performance based and not focused primarily on penalizing schools and students. The days of the wagging fingers, as well as waving spreadsheets,” are gone too. Time to focus on upgrading the supports at home, in the community, and in the schools that are needed for all students to be playing on a level academic playing field.

  30. JAMES 8 years ago8 years ago

    So idiots who can’t read and write get a diploma. Now they wil just start giving diplomas too illegals cause its a hardship for them to learn english.

    Replies

    • Gary Ravani 8 years ago8 years ago

      James:

      Have one shred of legitimate evidence to back up your absurd assertions?

  31. Don 8 years ago8 years ago

    “Students who have not passed have no way to meet the graduation requirement,” she said. “They should not suffer due to a lack of opportunity.” There's the rub. The "opportunity" Carol Liu refers to is the one codified in the California Constitution for equal educational opportunity. But here in San Francisco, while the Board of Education was granting diplomas as a result of ill-afforded opportunity it was taking away opportunity for students. Students won't … Read More

    “Students who have not passed have no way to meet the graduation requirement,” she said. “They should not suffer due to a lack of opportunity.” There’s the rub.

    The “opportunity” Carol Liu refers to is the one codified in the California Constitution for equal educational opportunity. But here in San Francisco, while the Board of Education was granting diplomas as a result of ill-afforded opportunity it was taking away opportunity for students. Students won’t be able to take the necessary Calculus prerequisite for stem fields unless they either take geometry and Algebra 2 concurrently in the 9th or 10th grade or take a compression course that unwisely crams 2 years of content into one. This sequence, by the accounts of many experts leaves students at a disadvantage to excel Calculus.

    UC Berkeley Professor Schoenfeld, whose comments are used as supporting evidence for the math sequence, said, “Many years ago, the Mathematical Association of America released a document saying, in essence, “Please don’t rush students through the curriculum so that they can take calculus in their senior year.” He then goes on to explain why it is a bad idea. And he very well could be right, though I wonder if a slower progression applies to all equally. But nevertheless, UC Berkeley requires high school Calculus for at least some STEM field applicants. So he’s espousing a policy that, if followed, will assure that he will never teach those students who were subject to it. Or that’s the way I see it.

    SFUSD students shouldn’t lose the opportunity to graduate and SFUSD students shouldn’t lose the opportunity to take required courses.

  32. Doug McRae 8 years ago8 years ago

    Oh, really! "CAHSEE as it exists doesn't test what we're teaching," per Senator Hancock. I guess we can include Hancock among the leaders in Sacto with no clue what is happening in the trenches, or the fundamentals for HS exit exams. For the Class of 2015, very very few (if any) schools in CA were teaching based on the common core when the Class of 2015 entered HS in 2011, when graduation requirements were set … Read More

    Oh, really! “CAHSEE as it exists doesn’t test what we’re teaching,” per Senator Hancock. I guess we can include Hancock among the leaders in Sacto with no clue what is happening in the trenches, or the fundamentals for HS exit exams. For the Class of 2015, very very few (if any) schools in CA were teaching based on the common core when the Class of 2015 entered HS in 2011, when graduation requirements were set for the Class of 2015, and grad requirements cannot be changed mid-stream for any graduating class. Applying that court-required fundamental [Debra P in the late 70’s, Gonzalez in the late 90’s, the “opportunity to learn” fundamental] to current HS students, it is likely the Class of 2019 before a majority of high schools in CA are ready for an exit exam based on the common core. Until then, the current CAHSEE measures what CA high schools have been teaching.

    The LA Times had an editorial published August 19 titled “State schools chief flunks on exit exams,” fingering SB 172 as the culprit behind the entire CAHSEE fiasco this summer. [Theresa — Can you put a link to this editorial here?] It concluded “Was this politically motivated or simple ineptitude? Neither is acceptable.” All the evidence points to political motivation, to suspend and eliminate any statewide requirement documenting minimal skills for a CA high school diploma via an exit exam as soon as possible, as the driving force behind the SSPI’s decision to cancel the July administration of CAHSEE — contrary to his oath of office to uphold CA laws. The LA Times editorial was spot-on media treatment for this SSPI blunder.

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  33. Phil 8 years ago8 years ago

    Does this only pertain to the class of 2015 or can students from previous classes who didn’t pass the exam get their diploma as well?

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    • Theresa Harrington 8 years ago8 years ago

      It only pertains to the class of 2015, since the test was not canceled for students in previous classes.

      • Susan 8 years ago8 years ago

        well I think if the test is no longer given to get you diploma the all students that completed all requirements but didn't pass on Oriely parts of the chasee and received a completion certificate should now be allow to get there diaploma! My son Dodd all requirements passed the math chasee but didn't pas the English chasee so he walked at graduation but has a certificate of completion he's never went and got and … Read More

        well I think if the test is no longer given to get you diploma the all students that completed all requirements but didn’t pass on Oriely parts of the chasee and received a completion certificate should now be allow to get there diaploma! My son Dodd all requirements passed the math chasee but didn’t pas the English chasee so he walked at graduation but has a certificate of completion he’s never went and got and now this is BS I feel he should recieve his diploma now

      • jeovany 8 years ago8 years ago

        Since I've been reading your comments at first you said if the bill SB 172 passes we would be able to get our high school diplomas from 2006 through 2015. And then I read another comment you posted witch you said It only applied to the class of 2015. Can you please clarify this? Will I be able to get my high school diploma? I was in the class of 2010 and have … Read More

        Since I’ve been reading your comments at first you said if the bill SB 172 passes we would be able to get our high school diplomas from 2006 through 2015. And then I read another comment you posted witch you said It only applied to the class of 2015. Can you please clarify this? Will I be able to get my high school diploma? I was in the class of 2010 and have every other requirement other than the math CAHSEE exam.