California High School Exit Exam

It’s BS. They say it’s 5^th — 6^th grade math with some algebra 1 when I NEVER learned any of this in 5^th or 6^th grade and started learning it my freshmen year. I passed the English section the 1^st time, I had all 220 credits needed to graduate and always passed my math classes with a C average at least, yet couldn’t pass the math section the 4 times I took it and it caused me to not receive a diploma. I was a great student always kept A’s and B’s in all other subjects yet once I couldn’t pass the math section for the 2^nd time even with tutoring I started to get really discouraged knowing no matter how well I did in school that wouldn’t matter if I couldn’t pass that math exam, so here I am 22 paying to re take it next week !

The California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) is a requirement for most California High School students who will graduate after the year 2005 – 2006. Wikipedia says: «CAHSEE was created by the California Department of Education to improve the academic performance of California high school students, and especially of high school graduates, in the areas of reading, writing, and mathematics.»
Students first take the test the beginning of their sophomore year. If they do not pass one or both of the two test sections, there is a chance to retake the section or sections they have not yet passed. Eight test opportunities are available to students before the end of their senior year to try and pass the CAHSEE.
The CAHSEE is divided into two main sections: English and Math. The English section includes about 80 multiple-​choice questions and requires students to write one or two multi-​paragraph essays. Essay questions change with each test date. The mathematics section consists of about 90 multiple choice questions.
The number of students passing the test on their first attempt has risen slightly each year since 2004. More than three-​quarters of students pass the test more than two years before they finish high school. Beginning with the Class of 2010, eligible disabled students may graduate without passing the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE). Eligible students who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) that indicates the student has satisfied or will satisfy all other state and local requirements to receive a high school diploma will not be required to pass the CAHSEE test.
Students with disabilities are still required to take the CAHSEE in grade ten for purposes of fulfilling the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. I have heard that parents of Special Ed students sued the State Dept. of Education over this matter in order to get their Special Needs students off the hook for passing CAHSEE. I can say that my son took the test and passed it the first time. He received no special accommodations for his disability, however there is much help given to struggling students to help get them up to speed in order to pass the tests. There are special classes and after-​school tutoring available. My son’s school now even offers free on-​line tutoring to students in need of CAHSEE assistance.
I understand why the Educational bureaucracy feels the need to have this High School Exit Exam. It does help to show tax-​payers professional accountability of teachers and school districts. It negates any type of social promotions that have passed unprepared students up to the point of graduation. But on the other hand, there is the little matter of the CAHSEE highlighting educational disparities by race, disability, income, language and school district. The mandated passage of this exit exam has embarrassed some school districts, who were previously able to ignore their failures, while cheerfully consuming large amounts of tax-​payer monies.
Therefore, I allot the CAHSEE 3 Unilocal Stars-​which is the Middle Ground.
Yea for the fact that they want these kids to graduate with a diploma that actually proves they learned something in their 12 years of public education.
Nay because there are so many other mitigating circumstances that could unfairly impact the ability of some disadvantaged students to succeed in passing this test.