"In a Nutshell"
CAHSEE (
§ The California
State Board of Education (SBE) requires that high school students graduating in
the 2006 school year and beyond must pass this exam in order to receive a high
school diploma.
§ All public
schools are required to test 95% of 10th grade students in their 10th grade
enrollment year with this state-mandated assessment. Therefore, student
participation at the exam sessions in their 10th grade year is crucial to the
existence of the school and is required.
§ The exam is
given over two days. The first day is for English Language Arts, the second day
is for Math.
§ The tests are
untimed. The average time is two hours per session and there are two sessions
per day with a break in between. The test schedule is set up using average
times.
§ Students must
show a photo identification of some kind to be able to take the test.
§ Test site locations
and schedules are posted online on our school website and
available through your ES.
§ Grade 10
students may only attempt the same section of the CAHSEE test one time per year
and it must be in the spring. Grade 11
students may attempt two times per year.
Grade 12 may attempt three times per year.
§ When the
student begins an exam, they must complete both sessions on that same day. For
example, if they sign up to take the Math exam, they must take the first
two-hour session and also take the second two-hour session the same day in
order to receive a score.
§ Students are
supposed to attempt the CAHSEE in 10th grade for the first time, since that is
when the 95% participation for students is counted. If they don't pass, there is no consequence
for having to redo it in 11th grade, except retaking it. It is better to take it, not pass, count as a
positive for the 95% requirement, and know what is needed to study in order to
pass the next time.
§ Resources for
study are available through your ES. There
are also CDE online resources that are found at http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/resources.asp.