Changes to CAHSEE Administration Schedule Anticipated
Currently, the CAHSEE administration dates are scheduled through May 2008. The CDE is revisiting the current administration schedule and anticipates making alterations to the schedule beginning with the 2006-07 school year. A revised administration schedule is expected to be released in spring 2006.
Senate Bill 517 and the CAHSEE Requirement for Students with Disabilities
On January 30, 2006, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Senate Bill (SB) 517, which provides a one-year exemption of the requirement to pass the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) for certain students with disabilities in the class of 2006. On February 3, 2006, the CDE e-mailed a letter and information sheet to district superintendents, special education directors, and testing coordinators to provide clarification and guidance to school districts regarding this new law. This letter and information sheet are posted on the CAHSEE Web page.
This new law, which takes effect immediately, also requires school districts to report information pertaining to the exemptions provided to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and information about the local waiver process to the State Board of Education (SBE). Further information about these reporting requirements will soon be disseminated by the CDE to school districts. The full text of SB 517 is available online at Legislation Information (Outside Source).
Spanish Translations of Reporting Individual Student Results Assistance Packet Now Available
In December 2005, the assistance packet “Reporting Individual Student Results for the 2005-06 School Year” was posted to the CAHSEE Web page. A Spanish translation of the following portions of this assistance packet is now available on the CDE Web site:
- Facts about the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE)
- Questions and Answers for Parents/Guardians
- Sample Cover Letter for Grade Ten and Eleven Students
- Sample Cover Letter for Grade Twelve Students
- Sample Cover Letter for the Local Waiver Process
- Sample Student and Parent Reports (coming soon)
2004-05 Apportionment Information Report Waiver Requests
If a district or charter school did not return a signed 2004-05 CAHSEE Apportionment Information Report to the CDE by the December 31, 2005, deadline, the district or charter school may apply for a waiver of the deadline to be approved by the SBE. The CDE cannot release payment of the apportionment funding for late reports without a waiver approved by the SBE. The general waiver request to the SBE is a formal document and requires local board approval, a public hearing, and union participation per Education Code Section 33050 et seq. The 2004-05 CAHSEE apportionment reports were mailed to district superintendents and charter school administrators in August 2005. Reports that were received by the deadline have already been processed and payment released. The specific waiver request form and instructions for state testing apportionments are available on the Waiver Web page.
If you have questions regarding the waiver request process, please contact Hilary Steinmetz in the Waiver Office, at 916-319-0823 or by e-mail at hsteinme@cde.ca.gov. If you have questions regarding the CAHSEE Apportionment Information Report, please contact Shari Dalporto in the Standards and Assessment Division, at 916-319-0340 or by e-mail at sdalporto@cde.ca.gov.
