The state of California is considering the removal of the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). All across California sophomore students are in preparation to take the CAHSEE which determines where they stand on the academic ladder. If students do no pass the first time, they are allowed up to six reentries. Since California has such low requirements for passing the CAHSEE it should be a requirement for graduation because it illustrates a student’s competence of sixth to ninth grade standards and how schools can improve administrating and teaching.
State Exams are a way of determining whether a student should or should not receive his or her diploma. The CAHSEE measures a student’s basic English- Language Arts and mathematics proficiency. Passing the CAHSEE would mean getting at least a 55% for mathematics and 60% for English. Students who do not pass the first time have six opportunities to retake section that they did not pass. According to the Department of Education in California (CDE), “schools have to provide assistance, such as, tutoring, summer school, or additional courses” to improve the students’ test score (greatschools.org). Furthermore, if students continue to fail repeatedly throughout the six times they are subjected to attend adult school classes to earn their diploma. Because the state of California offers multifarious programs there should be no reason for a student to fail the exam multiple times. The CAHSEE heightens a student’s ability to survive in the real world; therefore, it should be essential upon graduating.
In order to improve students’ exam scores schools need to start with the administrators. With better test scores, it makes a principal component in determining the Academic Performance Index (API) score. API scores regulate the credibility a school receives as well as its “substantial consequences” (cde.ca.gov). For example, at Leland High School represents an average CAHSEE score of 94%, whereas, Broadway High school has a 48% passing rate. By mandating the CAHSEE it recognizes the deficiency of education that is taught in schools. In specific courses, students can be easily remissive; therefore, “teacher training is a key part in raising the academic performance” of students (hobel.org). In order for California students to learn and achieve these standards, teachers need to be re-trained annually. In certain schools teachers are negligent about the standards; as a result, the student suffers the consequence of not passing. By mandating the CAHSEE it helps students prepare for the challenges in life. It also indicates the teacher’s ability to instruct the class.
Although the CAHSEE may seem easy, some people may argue that many intelligent students do not have good test taking skills or test anxiety. For instance, many times when students fail a test it was not because they did not understand the material on the test, it is because students do not contain good test taking strategies, such as, study habits, reviewing the material for the test or even getting the proper amount of sleep. However, because the state of California requires additional prep classes for students that do not pass the CAHSEE the first time, there should be no reason for a student to be left behind. Furthermore, the exam provides the basic knowledge for students that are ready to go to college or start a career. This is why CAHSEE should be a requirement for graduating.
In conclusion, the exit exam is an indicator of a student's readiness for college-level coursework in mathematics and in English. By mandating the CAHSEE it helps students prepare as well as scrutinizes a teacher’s ability to instruct the class. In these instances, the exit exam should determine whether or not a student will receive a high school diploma.
State Exams are a way of determining whether a student should or should not receive his or her diploma. The CAHSEE measures a student’s basic English- Language Arts and mathematics proficiency. Passing the CAHSEE would mean getting at least a 55% for mathematics and 60% for English. Students who do not pass the first time have six opportunities to retake section that they did not pass. According to the Department of Education in California (CDE), “schools have to provide assistance, such as, tutoring, summer school, or additional courses” to improve the students’ test score (greatschools.org). Furthermore, if students continue to fail repeatedly throughout the six times they are subjected to attend adult school classes to earn their diploma. Because the state of California offers multifarious programs there should be no reason for a student to fail the exam multiple times. The CAHSEE heightens a student’s ability to survive in the real world; therefore, it should be essential upon graduating.
In order to improve students’ exam scores schools need to start with the administrators. With better test scores, it makes a principal component in determining the Academic Performance Index (API) score. API scores regulate the credibility a school receives as well as its “substantial consequences” (cde.ca.gov). For example, at Leland High School represents an average CAHSEE score of 94%, whereas, Broadway High school has a 48% passing rate. By mandating the CAHSEE it recognizes the deficiency of education that is taught in schools. In specific courses, students can be easily remissive; therefore, “teacher training is a key part in raising the academic performance” of students (hobel.org). In order for California students to learn and achieve these standards, teachers need to be re-trained annually. In certain schools teachers are negligent about the standards; as a result, the student suffers the consequence of not passing. By mandating the CAHSEE it helps students prepare for the challenges in life. It also indicates the teacher’s ability to instruct the class.
Although the CAHSEE may seem easy, some people may argue that many intelligent students do not have good test taking skills or test anxiety. For instance, many times when students fail a test it was not because they did not understand the material on the test, it is because students do not contain good test taking strategies, such as, study habits, reviewing the material for the test or even getting the proper amount of sleep. However, because the state of California requires additional prep classes for students that do not pass the CAHSEE the first time, there should be no reason for a student to be left behind. Furthermore, the exam provides the basic knowledge for students that are ready to go to college or start a career. This is why CAHSEE should be a requirement for graduating.
In conclusion, the exit exam is an indicator of a student's readiness for college-level coursework in mathematics and in English. By mandating the CAHSEE it helps students prepare as well as scrutinizes a teacher’s ability to instruct the class. In these instances, the exit exam should determine whether or not a student will receive a high school diploma.