Current Event:

California High School Exit Exam Erin Kunkle, Julia Nyberg, Karen Hagihara, Priscilla Lee, and Tracy Green

Global Comparison Austria, Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Lithuania, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, Switzerland and Thailand all have some form of Exit Exam. Most of them test only math and science.

Country Comparison: Which other states? 27 states have exit exams 20 currently have exams and 7 will phase them in over seven years States that require high-school graduation exams: Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia. States phasing in exit exams by 2008 but not yet withholding diplomas: Alaska, Arizona, Utah, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Washington Three types of exit exams:       1) minimum competency exam       2) standards-based exam       3) end-of-course exam Each state uses a different type of exam - majority are standardsbased exams

History of CAHSEE:

CAHSEE hits the courts more than my divorce cases do!

In, Out, and In again 1999- Development of CAHSEE authorized by Senate Bill 2X 2001- CAHSEE administrated to volunteer 9th graders 2002- CAHSEE administrated to all grade 10 students July 9, 2003- The California Board of Education voted 9-0 to delay implementation of CAHSEE as graduation requirement until 2006. March 2005- The California Legislature introduces bills to delay implementation of CAHSEE. In addition, a school district sues the State of California over testing of English Language Learners on standardized testing including the CAHSEE.

....In, Out, and In again in 2006

Feb 8, 2006- The Morrison & Foerster law firm sues state education officials on behalf of students in the class of 2006 who have not passed the exit exam. The case alleges that the state's schools have not prepared all students equally to pass the test. May 12 2006- Ruling by an Alameda County Superior Court judge, blocked the requirement that public school students pass a high school exit exam in order to graduate. May 24, 2006- The court ruling was overturned by the California State Supreme Court, thus reinstating the CAHSEE. June 2006- 42,000 seniors fail to pass the exam. .....Will it last?

The exam....

Yes, I need some details!

Who?  As of the class of 2006, students are REQUIRED to pass the exam to get their DIPLOMA.  All public school students - it's still in discussion whether private schools should have these exams. What?  Tests English language arts (ELA) and mathematics.  ELA is up to CA 10th grade standards.  Multiple choice and 1 essay.  Math is multiple choice and tests through Algebra 1 (which can be taken starting in 8th grade and is a graduation requirement).  Passing is 55% correct in math and 60% correct in ELA.  The essay is 18% of the ELA score.

Where? Taken at student’s home school Why?  Accountability!  Consistency across the state. High Standards for all. The state of California says, "The primary purpose of the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) is to significantly improve pupil achievement in public high schools and to ensure that pupils who graduate from public high schools can demonstrate grade level competency in reading, writing, and mathematics. The CAHSEE helps identify students who are not developing skills that are essential for life after high school and encourages districts to give these students the attention and resources needed to help them achieve these skills during their high school years."  http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/overview.asp

Please sharpen your No. 2 pencil before we begin...

Are you ready to take the test?

Math

Source: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/documents/section2math.pdf

1. Mr. Gulati is holding five cards numbered 1 through 5. He has asked five students to each randomly pick a card to see who goes first in a game. Whoever picks the card numbered 5 goes first. Juanita picks first, gets the card numbered 4, and keeps the card. What is the probability that Yoko will get the card numbered 5 if she picks second? A. 1/2 B. 1/3 C. 1/4 D. 1/5 Note: These problems would be more difficult for English Language Learners. In addition to knowing how to perform the correct mathematical operations, they must also be able to understand English. It is testing not only mathematic proficiency, but also language proficiency.

Reading Comprehension Writing Task: Tourism committees spend a great deal of money each year advocating natural landmarks of states and countries. By using media such as posters, magazine advertisements, television commercials, and radio advertisements, committees are able to send a message about beautiful places, and hopefully convince some tourists to travel to those places. Suppose you have been hired by a tourism committee. Write a persuasive essay in which you identify a place in the world that has something tourists might find interesting. Explain precisely what makes that particular place so special. Develop your ideas so that a potential tourist would be persuaded to visit the place you have identified. 51. What does the word eccentricities mean in the following sentence? The state’s wealth is only increased by its eccentricities and its magic. A unusual characteristics B large population C diverse climate D famous beauty

FAILING:  Almost one in ten haven't passed this year In LAUSD 2564 students will get to walk even though they haven't passed yet, in hopes that they'll pass in July or October.  86% of seniors=25,779 PASSED. Even if you pass, you still have to have completed required courses, credit hours and other requirements- like attendance.  If you DON'T pass: 1. You can still get a GED.  2. If you are 16-18, you can take the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) 3. 2-year community college

Who failed?

NOTE:  Charts include everyone who took the test that year, 10, 11, 12th, and repeat test takers.

Who failed this year? White 4%

ELLs 31%

African American 21%

Asian 6% Disadvantaged 19%

Latino 19%

White Asian Disadvantaged Latino African American

Review March, 2006

ELLs

Is CAHSEE failing ELLs? 1 in 4 ELs didn't pass this year and won't be able to graduate. Problems facing English Learners: 1. The mathematics section not only tests a student’s ability to do math problems, but also the student’s ability to comprehend English. 2.Making test accommodations, such as allowing the English learner to use a dictionary, may help the student look with understanding unfamiliar words, but it can affect the validity of the test. 3. English Learners often spend their time learning English instead of learning the material on the exam. As a result, they may not have learned the subject matter being tested.

Considerations for ELLs and Special Education Students All ELs take the CAHSEE in 10th grade.  However the district can defer the requirement to pass the exam for up to 2 years after the EL first enrolls in CA public schools.  Special Education: if the student has an Individualized Education A catch- 22?! Program (IEP), the testing conditions may be modified to accommodate them.  This may include using a computer or a calculator.  BUT this makes their scores invalid, even if they pass. So they may get a waiver if they complete all of the following: 1. they do all of their coursework, 2. their IEP says they need modifications, 3.  They pass with the modifications. 

The Good, and the Bad CONS Teaching to the test.

..and some say raciest and illegal!

They are tested on school time, takes away from class time. May lead to higher dropout rates among low-achieving students & those who have difficulty taking tests. Unfair if students are not taught subject matter It can also be seen as unfair to non English-speaking students, since it cannot be taken in other languages. Special education students are required to take the test, even though their scores will be considered invalid if they require necessary modifications.

some say, “I feel like my diploma means a lot more”

PROS Accountability! Promotes consistent learning standards across the state Better prepares students for post-secondary education and adult life Provides schools with tools to identify and address needs of struggling students CAHSEE could also be credited for signaling high schools that give passing grades to students that did not master English or Math.  Creates consistent expectations for all students, including ELLs and Special Education students.

Discussion Questions

What do you think?

1) Should there be an exit exam? 2) Has anyone had personal experience with a high school exit exam? 3) Is enough being done to prepare students to meet the requirements of the CAHSEE? 4) What are the dangers of teaching to the test? 5) What other options should be available for ELLs other than the exit exam in order to receive a diploma? 6) ELLs are given a dictionary to ensure the exam is measuring content, not English proficiency.  This is done in MA and MN. What do you think? 7) On the other hand, should the CAHSEE test English proficiency? 8) Repeatedly, the press has reported,“So-and-so has a 3.8 GPA and did not pass the test.” Is this a sign that the test is bad, or that schools aren’t being held accountable for teaching students basic material?

Bibliography McCloskey, Laura Wentworth and Maria Lizet Ocampo.  (2006, June 20).  Improving California's exit exam for English Learners.  San Francisco Chronicle.  Retrieved June 20, 2006 from http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/06/20/ EDGDOILMR21.DTL. Mehta, Seema.  (2006, June 2).  Exit Exam Leaves 2006 Class 42,000 Short.  Los Angeles Times.  Retrieved June 20, 2006 from http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-meexitexam2jun02,1,6535322.story?ctrack=1&cset=true. Silverstein, Stuart and Seema Mehta (2006, June 25). Exit Exam Not the End for High School Seniors. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 25, 2006 from http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-mecollege25jun25,1,266791.story. CAHSEE website http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/ http://en.wikipedia.org http://nces.ed.gov/programs/coe/2005/section4/indicator24.asp http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/overview.asp http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/scheduleadmin.asp www.cep-dc.org/pubs/statehighschoolexitexams2002/statehighschoolexitexams2002.pdf http://www.edsource.org/pdf/QA_hseefinal.pdf http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/documents/infoparents05.pdf http://www.cde.ca.gov/ta/tg/hs/resources.asp