SACRAMENTO — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell today announced that the Governor has signed legislation he sponsored to allow students who pass the summer and/or fall administrations of the California High School Exit Exam to continue to be eligible for a Cal Grant.

SB 1383, by state Senator Deborah Ortiz (D-Sacramento), extends the Cal Grant application deadline for students who pass the exit exam administered in July and in the fall.

"I am so proud of students who worked hard to pass the exit exam," O'Connell said. "Succeeding in the increasingly competitive global economy of the 21st century will require higher level analytical skills, a strong grounding in mathematics, and strong communications skills. We should encourage every student who wants to go to college. This measure ensures that no student who has worked hard to prepare for college will be denied that opportunity because of lack of financial resources. I want to thank Senator Ortiz for her hard work on this bill and for her commitment to opening the doors to college for all students."