Executive Summary Executive Summary

In 1999, the California legislature established the requirement that students pass a graduation exam in English-language arts (ELA) and mathematics beginning with the Class of 2004. Some modifications to the requirement for the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) were passed in 2002. (For more details on the bills establishing this test and the basis for continuing evaluations and reports, including this one, see Chapter 1 of this report.) In July 2003, after the completion of the 2002–03 school year CAHSEE testing, the State Board of Education (Board) voted to defer the CAHSEE requirement until 2006. The legislation establishing the CAHSEE in 1999 also called for an independent evaluation of the impact of the CAHSEE requirement. HumRRO has been evaluating the CAHSEE and its impact since January 2000. The legislation also called for biennial reports to the legislature. The 2008 Biennial Report describes evaluation activities and results through January 20081. Findings the evaluation activities have implications for most aspects of the CAHSEE, from the development of the test itself to how it is used and its impact on specific groups of students. Evaluation activities and key findings ar