First 2008-09 Test Administration
The July 29-30 administration of the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) is the first administration for the 2008-09 school year. Only grade twelve and adult students are eligible to take the examination in July. Important deadline dates for this administration are shown below. Further information about material ordering, Pre-ID, and supplemental shipment deadlines can be found on the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Web site CAHSEE Calendar (Outside Source). Questions about ordering deadlines should be directed to the ETS CAHSEE Support line at 1-800-241-5687.
| Administration Dates | Ordering Deadline | Pre-ID Deadline | Late Pre-ID Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
July 29-30, 2008 |
June 13 |
June 24 |
July 17 |
Results from 2008 May and July Administrations
The student results detail file for the May administration of the CAHSEE is scheduled to be available on June 26 for district coordinators to download. Results from the July administration are scheduled to be available on September 25. As a reminder, results for all districts are released at the same time; it is not possible to obtain results for individual students before this time.
Release of 2007-08 Summary Results
In early September, the California Department of Education (CDE) is scheduled to release summary results for the 2007-08 CAHSEE administrations. Results at the school, district, county, and state levels will be available on the CAHSEE Reports Web page.
Clarification Regarding Assembly Bill 347
The answers to many questions regarding Assembly Bill 347 may be found on the CAHSEE Web page. As a reminder, local educational agencies (LEAs) may only test students who are enrolled in the LEA. Students are not obligated to accept intensive instruction as a requirement for taking the CAHSEE.
Teacher and Student Study Guides
Over the past year, multiple focus groups composed of administrators, teachers, parents, and students were asked to provide feedback on the student study guides and teachers’ guides. (The current guides can be found at the CAHSEE Program Resources Web page.) The input from these groups will contribute to revised and improved guides. The revised student study guides are scheduled for release on the CAHSEE Program Resources Web page in July; information on the printing of the student guides will be available after the State Budget is passed. The revised teacher guides are scheduled for release on the CAHSEE Web page in August.
There are still copies of the current mathematics study guides available from CDE. To obtain copies, submit the district’s FedEx shipping number, along with the number of copies requested and a shipping address and orders will be filled while supplies last.
2008-09 Parent Notification Assistance Packet
Beginning in grade nine, students and their parents or guardians must receive written notice of the CAHSEE requirement from their school district. This notice must be provided at the beginning of the school year. At the end of June, the CDE is scheduled to release the CAHSEE assistance packet Notifying Parents and Guardians for the 2008-09 School Year to assist school districts in providing this notification. This assistance packet, which will be posted on the CDE CAHSEE Web page, includes a sample notification flyer and suggestions for informing students and their parents or guardians about the CAHSEE. A Spanish translation of the parent documents in this assistance packet will also be available on the CDE Web page.
2008-09 Testing Dates and Guidelines
Guidelines for scheduling CAHSEE administrations for the 2008-09 school year are now available on the CAHSEE Administration Web page . Currently, districts can order only through December. Administrations after December will be part of the new testing contract. More information about ordering for the rest of the year will be provided at a later date.
Grade Twelve Testing Opportunities for the 2008-09 School Year
According to California Code of Regulations, Title 5, grade twelve students are eligible to take the CAHSEE up to three times per school year. However, in 2007-08, the Budget Act allowed two additional opportunities, for a total of five per year. Until the new budget is passed, it is uncertain whether grade twelve students will be allowed more than three opportunities to take the CAHSEE during the 2008-09 school year. Regardless of the number of opportunities they receive, please keep in mind that grade twelve students who take the exam in May 2009 will not receive their results in time for most graduation ceremonies.
Special Education Data Reporting Requirements
LEAs are required to report to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction information pertaining to the local waivers granted pursuant to Education Code Section 60851(c). The deadline for reporting the 2006-07 waiver data is December 31, 2008. This fall, the CDE will provide LEAs with instructions for reporting these data.
Legislative Update
A number of bills pertaining to CAHSEE have been proposed in the legislature, including Assembly Bill 1503, which is associated with the waiver process for students with disabilities. These bills can be tracked on the California Legislative Information Web site (Outside Source). To receive e-mail notifications on the progress of any of these bills, click the “subscribe” button at the bottom of the bill overview page.
Settlement of Kidd (Chapman) v. California Department of Education (CDE)
On May 30, 2008, Honorable Judge Robert Freedman signed the final agreement in the Kidd (Chapman) v. California Department of Education lawsuit. As required by the settlement, the CDE is preparing a request for proposals to hire an independent external consultant to conduct a study examining twelfth graders (and possibly others) who have taken the CAHSEE with modifications and accommodations specified in their respective IEPs or 504 plans, but who have not passed the CAHSEE, and who have satisfied or will satisfy all other requirements for graduation from high school.
More Information
Additional information about the CAHSEE is available on the CAHSEE Web page. Questions about the CAHSEE can be directed to the CAHSEE Office at 916-445-9449. For Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) or Academic Performance Index (API) information, please contact the CDE’s Academic Accountability Unit at 916-319-0863.
