Release: #06-60
June 1, 2006

Contact: Hilary McLean
E-mail: communications@cde.ca.gov
Phone: 916-319-0818

4,500 Additional Students in Class of 2006 Fulfill Exit Exam Requirement

BURBANK — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell announced today that 4,542 additional students in the Class of 2006 have met the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) requirement by passing both the English-language arts and the math sections, bringing the pass rate up to 90.4 percent. (See Table 1.)

"These results show great improvement since students began taking the Exit Exam in their sophomore year," O'Connell said. "We must focus now on doing everything possible for those students whose graduation must be postponed because they have not yet mastered the skills in English and math that they will need to succeed past high school."

An estimated 41,758 students in the Class of 2006 have yet to fulfill the Exit Exam requirement based on the latest cumulative results of test takers through the March 2006 administration.

Subgroup analysis of the latest passage rates shows 95.2 percent of Asian students, 84.3 percent of Hispanic students, 83.2 percent of African American students, and 96.9 percent of white students have succeeded in passing both parts of the Exam. (See Table 2.)

"A disturbing and unacceptable achievement gap persists," O'Connell said. "However, let's not shoot the messenger that tells us the gap exists. Instead, I welcome the focus that this test has provided. Since the Exit Exam was first administered to students in the Class of 2006 during their sophomore year, the achievement gap in the passing rate has narrowed significantly. Since these students first took the CAHSEE, 39 percent more English learners have met the requirement — more than double the rate of white students. Hispanic students, African American students, and economically disadvantaged students made double or more the improvement of white students.

"While this is encouraging, it remains imperative that all of us in education do more to focus on the educational needs of those struggling students. We must move quickly to close these gaps," he said.

The CAHSEE is one of a number of state and local graduation requirements that students in California must fulfill before receiving a diploma (Graduation Requirements). O'Connell noted that an informal survey conducted by the California Department of Education of major school districts in California showed that approximately 2 to 5 percent of students in the senior class will not graduate with their peers this spring solely because they have not met the Exit Exam requirement.

"We must make sure that each of those students has every option available to continue with their education," O'Connell said. "Summer school, a fifth year of high school, an independent study program, or enrollment in an adult education program will help many of these students to master the skills needed to pass the Exit Exam and earn a diploma. I know our schools and districts are working hard to help these students succeed. Intensive remediation, individualized instruction, and counseling efforts are being provided to students who are most at risk."

O'Connell is sponsoring a package of legislation designed to expand options for students who are still struggling to pass the CAHSEE. These bills are moving quickly through the legislative process (O'Connell Outlines CAHSEE Options).

This is the last update on CAHSEE results that will be released before most high school graduation ceremonies are held. Some students in the Class of 2006 took the CAHSEE in May, but results from that administration of the test will not be available until mid-July.

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Attachments

Table 1:
Estimated Total Passing In Each Administration of CAHSEE

Subgroup	Grade 10	Grade 11	Fall 2005 Administration	February 2006 Administration	March 2006 Administration	Total Passed
All Students	295,226	67,810	19,933	6,931	4,542	394,442
Females	150,818	32,268	9,475	3,444	2,579	198,584
Males	144,356	35,430	10,401	3,481	1,961	195,629
Asian	34,709	4,583	1,383	515	253	41,443
Hispanic	92,362	33,249	10,292	4,653	2,833	143,389
African American	16,891	6,893	2,236	1,014	706	27,740
White, Non-Hispanic	133,650	18,921	4,786	537	550	158,444
Economically Disadvantaged	88,918	32,524	9,702	4,573	2,847	138,564
English Learner	24,783	17,032	5,996	3,191	1,920	52,922
Special Education	7,993	6,675	--	--	--	14,668

Table 2:
Estimated Number and Percentage of Students in the Class of 2006
Meeting the CAHSEE Requirement through March 2006

Group	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12	Not Yet Passed	Total	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12	Total Passed	Change Gd. 10-12
All Students	295,226	67,810	31,406	41,758	436,200	67.7%	15.5%	7.2%	90.4%	22.7%
Females	150,818	32,268	15,498	19,794	218,378	69.1%	14.8%	7.1%	90.9%	21.9%
Males	144,356	35,430	15,843	22,013	217,642	66.3%	16.3%	7.3%	89.9%	23.6%
Asian	34,709	4,583	2,151	2,095	43,538	79.7%	10.5%	4.9%	95.2%	15.5%
Hispanic	92,362	33,249	17,778	26,763	170,152	54.3%	19.5%	10.4%	84.3%	30.0%
African American	16,891	6,893	3,956	5,619	33,359	50.6%	20.7%	11.9%	83.2%	32.5%
White, non-Hispanic	133,650	18,921	5,873	4,988	163,432	81.8%	11.6%	3.6%	96.9%	15.2%
Economically Disadvantaged	88,918	32,524	17,122	25,450	164,014	54.2%	19.8%	10.4%	84.5%	30.3%
English Learner	24,783	17,032	11,107	18,565	71,487	34.7%	23.8%	15.5%	74.0%	39.4%

Table 3:
Estimated Number and Percentage of Students in the Class of 2006
Passing the CAHSEE ELA Section through March 2006

Group	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12	Not Yet Passed	Total	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12	Total Passed	Change Gd. 10-12
All Students	334,712	50,223	24,073	27,192	436,200	76.7%	11.5%	5.5%	93.8%	17.0%
Females	173,969	22,264	10,781	11,364	218,378	79.7%	10.2%	4.9%	94.8%	15.1%
Males	160,733	27,799	13,237	15,873	217,642	73.9%	12.8%	6.1%	92.7%	18.9%
Asian	35,817	4,009	1,941	1,771	43,538	82.3%	9.2%	4.5%	95.9%	13.7%
Hispanic	112,719	25,247	13,891	18,295	170,152	66.2%	14.8%	8.2%	89.2%	23.0%
African American	22,409	4,974	2,951	3,025	33,359	67.2%	14.9%	8.8%	90.9%	23.8%
White, non-Hispanic	144,083	12,660	4,019	2,670	163,432	88.2%	7.7%	2.5%	98.4%	10.2%
Economically Disadvantaged	108,305	24,602	13,547	17,560	164,014	66.0%	15.0%	8.3%	89.3%	23.3%
English Learner	31,817	15,075	9,702	14,893	71,487	44.5%	21.1%	13.6%	79.2%	34.7%

Table 4
Estimated Number and Percentage of Students in the Class of 2006
Passing the CAHSEE Mathematics Section through March 2006

Group	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12	Not Yet Passed	Total	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12	Total Passed	Change Gd. 10-12
All Students	329,661	51,718	24,702	30,119	436,200	75.6%	11.9%	5.7%	93.1%	17.5%
Females	163,630	26,808	12,774	15,166	218,378	74.9%	12.3%	5.8%	93.1%	18.1%
Males	165,647	25,125	11,872	14,998	217,642	76.1%	11.5%	5.5%	93.1%	17.0%
Asian	38,542	2,926	1,210	860	43,538	88.5%	6.7%	2.8%	98.0%	9.5%
Hispanic	111,588	25,718	14,040	18,806	170,152	65.6%	15.1%	8.3%	88.9%	23.4%
African American	19,352	5,775	3,428	4,804	33,359	58.0%	17.3%	10.3%	85.6%	27.6%
White, non-Hispanic	140,771	14,085	4,638	3,938	163,432	86.1%	8.6%	2.8%	97.6%	11.5%
Economically Disadvantaged	109,237	24,203	12,979	17,595	164,014	66.6%	14.8%	7.9%	89.3%	22.7%
English Learner	39,855	12,582	7,960	11,090	71,487	55.8%	17.6%	11.1%	84.5%	28.7%