The CAHSEE is a mandatory test for California high school students covering language arts and mathematics. It has flaws and merits, with concerns that it is unfair to students with learning disabilities. Passing the test is a graduation requirement, but modifications are limited, and those who do not pass may only receive a certificate of completion instead of a diploma.
The California High School Examination (CAHSEE) is a mandatory test that all high school students in California must pass before receiving a high school diploma. In 1999, California state laws were passed to develop standardized tests to address concerns that many California students were graduating from high school without the necessary skills to succeed at colleges. CAHSEE was developed in response to these laws. Although it began offering in 2001, it was first imposed as a graduation requirement in the Class of 2006.
The CAHSEE is a two-part exam covering language arts and mathematics. The math part includes basic arithmetic problems and basic algebra concepts. Students must demonstrate knowledge in probability, measurement, basic geometry, basic statistics, and algebra skills in their junior year of high school.
The second part of CAHSEE is language arts. Students must be able to demonstrate reading comprehension, knowledge of grammatical conventions and writing skills. Writing skills are tested in an essay format, requiring the student to show their ability to write a basic five-paragraph essay with proper logical flow, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Students begin taking the CAHSEE in Grade 10. Passed sections count towards the graduation requirement, and unpassed sections can be taken again, sometimes two to three times a year. Passing the CAHSEE is not always complete, and many parents of children with learning disabilities say the test is inherently unfair as it allows little modification.
When modifications, such as needing a calculator or word processor to complete the test, are allowed, the test score is not considered passed. There are a few ways around this. A school administrator can ask the school board to award a diploma to students who needed modifications to pass the test.
Even so, this may not always be the case, and even high-thinking students with learning difficulties may finish high school with only a certificate of completion rather than a diploma. Most state universities do not accept certificates of completion but are generally accepted by junior colleges where further remediation and help can be given to the student as needed. High school students who do not receive a diploma are usually given the opportunity to take more classes at a school in order to pass the CAHSEE.
Unlike many standardized tests, there is no charge to take the CAHSEE and it is often administered during school hours. Legally, public schools cannot charge for CAHSEE because it is a diploma and graduation requirement and public education must be available to students free of charge. Most private schools also administer the CAHSEE for free.
As with all standardized exams, the CAHSEE has flaws and merits. Proving that certain core skills have been mastered ensures that the majority of students who pass are ready to enter at least the college’s upper-level courses. On the other hand, the inflexibility of modifications for students who need them can make CAHSEE onerous for some students. There is concern that the dropout rate will increase if students learn that they will not be able to pass the CAHSEE unmodified, as the certificate of completion is not recognized by most colleges.
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