Date: November 20, 2007
CAHSEE Exemption
California Education Code [EC] Section 60852.4] allowed students in the Class of 2007 with disabilities to be granted a high school diploma without meeting the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) requirement. This CAHSEE exemption ends on December 31, 2007.
Beginning on January 1, 2008, all students with disabilities intending to earn a regular high school diploma must meet the CAHSEE requirement and complete all state and district graduation requirements, including Algebra 1 or its equivalent.
The CAHSEE requirement can be met in the following ways:
- Take the exam without accommodations or modifications and earn a score of 350 or more.
- Take the exam with accommodations and earn a score of 350 or more.
- Take the exam with modifications, earn a score of 350 or more and be granted a waiver of the requirement to pass the CAHSEE by the local board of education.
Please note that a combination of the above may occur. For example, a student may take the English-language arts section with accommodations and receive a score of 350; take the math section with a modification (e.g., a calculator) and receive a score of 350. In this case, the waiver would be granted for the math section of the exam.
The Matrix of Test Variations, Accommodations and Modifications for Administration of California Statewide Assessments can be found at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/sa/documents/matrix1007.doc (DOC; 2.2MB; 6pp.; Oct-2007). A matrix describing various ways a student with disabilities can meet state graduation requirements in order to exit from high school with a regular high school diploma can be found at http://www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/lr/documents/gradreqrmnt.doc (DOC; 66.5K; 1p.).
If you have any questions regarding this subject, please contact Jill Larson, Consultant, Assessment, Evaluation and Support Unit, 916-323-7192 or by email at jlarson@cde.ca.gov.
Sincerely,
Original signed by Mary Hudler and Deb Sigman. Hard copy of the signed document is available by contacting the Special Education Division's Director's Office at 916-445-4602.
Mary Hudler, Director
Special Education Division
Deb Sigman, Director
Standards and Assessment Division
1430 N Street
Sacramento, CA 95814