Skip to content
Printer-friendly version
Letter Head: Jack O'Connell, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Phone number 916-319-0800

October 17, 2006

Dear County and District Superintendents and Charter School Administrators:

CALIFORNIA HIGH SCHOOL EXIT EXAMINATION

I would like to follow up on my January 6, 2006, letter in which I set forth options available for the students in the class of 2006 who satisfied all local and state graduation requirements except passing the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE).

Your district has now received the results for those in the class of 2006 who took the July CAHSEE. I hope that all of your students passed. For those who did not, as I have repeatedly said, it simply means that their education is not yet complete.

We will, of course, continue to allow students in the class of 2006 additional opportunities to take the CAHSEE. Indeed, they may continue sitting for the exam as long as it takes to acquire the skills necessary for passage.

For your part, I strongly urge you to reach out immediately to each student in the class of 2006 who did not pass the CAHSEE and inform each student of the numerous options to continue their education in order to gain the skills necessary to earn a California High School Diploma and better prepare for today’s global economy. I also strongly encourage you to find ways within your district to continue to serve members of the class of 2006 in need of additional instruction through such programs as:

  • Specific CAHSEE remediation instruction through the currently available funding. These services may be received during the year following the grade twelve year for those students who have failed to pass one or both parts of the CAHSEE. CAHSEE Intensive Instruction and Services funding provided under Education Code (EC) Section 37254, and the Remedial Supplemental Instruction funding provided under EC Section 37252 (h) may be used to provide specific CAHSEE remediation instruction to serve the members of the Class of 2006.
  • Additional semester or year(s) of enrollment in a public comprehensive high school (for students who have been continuously enrolled) or in an alternative education program until the student passes the CAHSEE and obtains a diploma.
  • Continuous enrollment in an independent study program of coursework relevant to receiving a high school diploma.
  • Continuous enrollment in a charter school program until the CAHSEE is passed and a diploma awarded, through age twenty-two.
  • Enrollment in a charter school that provides instruction in partnership with: (1) the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998; (2) federally affiliated Youth Build programs; (3) federal job corps training or instruction; and (4) the California Conservation Corps or local conversation corps certified by the California Conservation Corps (EC Section 47612.1).
  • Enrollment in a California adult school secondary education program to obtain a diploma by satisfying the district’s graduation requirements and passing the CAHSEE.
  • Enrollment in a community college program offering a high school diploma in conjunction with your high school district.

I firmly believe that today’s economy demands higher-level skills, and that it is in the best interests of both our students and society to ensure we equip all our children with the knowledge and skills they will need before they enter the work force. The CAHSEE is working as intended and students across the state are meeting higher expectations as a result of the exam.

The California Department of Education (CDE) is committed to supporting your district's efforts to provide additional assistance to students in the Class of 2006 who have not yet passed the CAHSEE. The CDE provides a number of CAHSEE resources available on our Web site at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/resources.asp.

I know you join me in our shared commitment to never giving up on even one student. So I urge you to do everything in your power to reach those students in the class of 2006 who still need to pass the CAHSEE. Make sure these students know whom to contact in your district regarding opportunities for continuing their education, and make sure they know they have a home in our public schools. As long as these students continue to work toward greater knowledge, we will continue to stand behind them with additional assistance and resources. To assist you in your efforts to contact students in the class of 2006, I am attaching a sample letter for your use.

Sincerely,

/s/

JACK O’CONNELL

JO:rm
Attachment

cc: California High School Exit Examination Coordinators

Download Free Readers