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SACRAMENTO – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today commented on the eighth annual independent evaluation of the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). The evaluation for the school year 2006-07, conducted by the Human Resources Research Organization (HumRRO), was presented this afternoon to the State Board of Education during a regularly scheduled meeting.

"I am pleased the findings show that students who fail to pass CAHSEE continue to take the test," said O'Connell. "About 40 percent of students in the Class of 2006 who had not passed the CAHSEE by June of their senior year continued to take the exam. In addition, it is encouraging to see that more students are taking Algebra I by the tenth grade, more students are taking the SAT, and more are engaged in higher-level courses and getting the level of preparation they need to succeed in a demanding world."

"However, HumRRO's findings underscore how critically important it is that we mount a statewide effort to close the achievement gap. While many more students are achieving at higher levels and persisting in school with rigorous courses, the data continue to point to racial and economic achievement gaps in which far too many students are failing to achieve to their full potential."

HumRRO reported found that graduation rates declined by about 4 percentage points for the class of 2006, the first year California students were required to pass the CAHSEE to obtain a diploma, and that dropout rates increased.

"It is important to note that reporting of dropouts is imprecise, and that the dropout rate does not include those students who continue to take the exam beyond their senior year," O'Connell said. "We also don't know how many students who did not graduate with their class remained in high school or how many are pursuing a General Education Diploma and may have gone on to community college.

"But the fact remains that dropouts continue to be a serious concern, and as we focus on the achievement gap, we must find and employ strategies to keep students engaged and successful in school. Every student needs the skills measured by the CAHSEE to succeed in today's demanding global economy."

The Year 8 Independent Evaluation of the CAHSEE can be found at Independent Evaluation (HumRRO) - California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE).