Sac'to Bill Would Suspend CA High School Exit Exam Thru 2018-19 School Year, Says Current Test Doesn't Measure Common Core Standards, Would Update Exit Exam Or Potentially Replace It With Other Measurements

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by Elizabeth Cheruto* and David Sivard**.

*Ms. Cheruto has been the Long Beach City College calendar page editor, reporter and photographer for the Viking student newspaper and contribute to several semesters.
**Mr. Sivard is a communications major and a Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District educator.

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(April 23, 2015, 5:25 a.m.) -- A bill now advancing in Sacramento would suspend CA's High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) through at least the 2018-19 school year on grounds the current test -- a requirement to obtain a CA High School diploma -- is outdated in not measuring new "common core" standards.

SB 172 by State Senator Carol Liu (D., La Cañada Flintridge) doesn't eliminate the high school exit exam, but calls for updating it or possibly replacing it with other measurements.

Sen. Liu, cited in the Senate Education Committee's staff analysis of her bill, says the current exam doesn't cover basic common core standards that California lawmakers introduced last year. The legislation would suspend the CAHSEE until at least 2019 or until an updated exam, or other system of measurement is developed. SB 172 would require the state Superintendent of Public Instruction to convene an advisory panel to provide recommendations on continuing the test and on what it calls "alternative pathways" to satisfy high school graduation requirements.

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"Passing the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) was added as a requirement for high school graduation beginning with the Class of 2006. California has revamped the State's assessment system by transitioning to assessments that are aligned to the common core standards and eliminating outdated assessments," says Sen. Liu, quoted in the legislative analysis of the bill by the state Senate Education Committee (which she chairs.) "The California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) has not been updated for alignment to the common core standards and is therefore outdated as the exam is aligned to standards that are no longer in place," she says.

To view SB 172's full text as currently amended (as of April 22), click here.

On April 15, SB 172 cleared the state Senate Education Committee (membership is 7 Dems, 2 Repubs) on a 6-2 vote (Committee vote tally here) It's now awaiting a hearing in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The bill is marked as potentially having a state budget fiscal impact, meaning the Senate Appropriations Committee may or may not advance it immediately to the state Senate floor (awaiting further state budget data expected in the coming months). If the bill reaches the full Senate floor and passes, it would advance to the Assembly and a likely hearing in the Assembly Education Committee...whose chair is former LB Councilman/now Assemblyman Patrick O'Donnell.

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SB 172 would require the state Superintendent of Public Instruction (currently required by March 1, 2016 to submit recommendations on expanding the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress to include additional assessments) to convene an advisory panel to also provide the Superintendent with recommendations "on the continuation of the high school exit examination and on alternative pathways to satisfy specified high school graduation requirements."

The Senate Education Committee's legislative analysis says an analysis of the current CAHSEE exam indicates it needs to be substantially revised (replacing or modifying a significant number of items) to align with "common core" standards...and a current contract for the CAHSEE will expire on Oct. 31, 2015, Thus [Committee text] "absent any action, the CAHSEE will not be administered to students beginning July 2015, yet the requirement to pass the exit exam remains. This bill suspends the requirement to pass the exit exam during specified school years, or when the exit exam is no longer available."

The Education Committee legislative analysis indicates Sen. Liu says that SB 172 doesn't eliminate the high school exit exam, specifically requires the exit exam to be updated or replaced, or provide for a replacement or alternative during the term of suspension because the decisions of whether the exit exam should be updated, replaced with other measurements, or eliminated should be carefully considered by the workgroup established by her bill.

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Long Beach Unified School District Public Information Officer and spokesperson Chris Eftychiou told LBREPORT.com, "We are aware of the legislation and will be monitoring its progress." The state Senate Education Committee's mid-April legislative analysis lists SB 172 supporters as EdVoice, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, San Diego Unified School District, San Francisco Unified School District, SIATech and State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tom Torlakson. It says no opposition was received.

Millikan High Principal of Instruction Monica Daley said she wasn't aware of the bill but said "For some kids, it's a relief. Our primary goal is to prepare students for college and the workforce."

Tamara Weaver, 37, a parent at the Long Beach Polytechnic High School, told LBREPORT.com: "I feel the exit exam is not necessary, the students already have the volunteer program which requires a lot of their time, I feel this is unnecessary pressure for my daughter and other students." [I'd rather not quote minors]

Most students now in college had to take and pass the exam. Former Wilson High student Jasyn Minnie, 19, told LBREPORT.com, "I graduated from Woodrow Classical High School 2 years ago. I took the exam in my second year. The test was no more difficult than eight grade curriculum. I believe the test is a waste of time. It doesn’t set the bar high. The best options are to remove the test or raise the expectation for high school students."

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