No. 102           Office of the Superintendent

This circular provides background information and test administration details for the High School Exit Examination (HSEE).

The HSEE Program was established by Senate Bill 2, O’Connell in spring 1999. The HSEE serves two purposes:

1) to improve student achievement in high school and

2) to help ensure that students who graduate from high school can demonstrate competency in the content standards for reading, writing, and mathematics, adopted by the State Board of Education

Beginning with the graduating class of 2004 (this year’s grade 9 students), all students in California public schools will have to pass all sections of the HSEE to receive a high school diploma. In 2000-2001, students in grade 9 may, but will not be required to, take the exam. This year’s test will serve only as a practice test and will provide students with a chance to experience the exam. Although this year’s test is not now formally required of ninth grade students, only those students with a written request for exemption (parent opt-out) will be excused. It is essential that schools do everything possible to ensure that all ninth-grade students take the test, including English learners and special education students.

Beginning in 2001-2002, students in grade 10 will have to take the HSEE. Students must have many opportunities to meet the HSEE requirement for a high school diploma and to receive appropriate instruction on the standards covered by the test. Requiring the exam to be taken for the first time in grade 10 provides the opportunity for students who are unsuccessful to receive additional instruction and to retake any sections of the test they do not pass.

The HSEE has two sections – a Reading/Writing section and a Mathematics section. The Reading/Writing section of the test covers the California State English/Language Arts Content Standards through grade 10 and has both multiple-choice questions and writing tasks. The reading portion of the test covers vocabulary, informational reading, and literary reading. This portion will include 50 percent literary texts and 50 percent informational texts. The texts will be appropriate and accessible to students in grade 10 who perform at a basic level. The writing portion will cover writing strategies, applications, and conventions. It will have one written response to literature and one written response not related to a reading text.

The Mathematics section of the test covers the California State Mathematics Content Standards through Algebra I and consists of multiple choice questions.

The following is the statewide testing administration schedule for the HSEE. There is no provision for make-up testing on the HSEE.

Traditional Calendar Schools

Reading/Writing Wednesday March 7, 2001

Mathematics Tuesday March 13, 2001

Year-Round Calendar Schools

Reading/Writing Thursday May 17, 2001

Mathematics Thursday May 24, 2001

All grade 9 students may, but are not required to, take the HSEE this spring. Schools must offer the opportunity to take the HSEE to all grade 9 students and the district strongly encourages all grade 9 students to take the exam. This will provide students with a chance to experience the test. The results will help students, teachers, and parents know how students are doing in relation to the state’s English/Language Arts and Mathematics content standards.

English Learner (EL) Students

All EL students are required to take the HSEE. The district may defer the requirement for ELs to be tested for up to 24 months from their enrollment in a California public school, until the student has completed six months of instruction in reading, writing, and comprehension in English. The student must then pass the HSEE in English to receive a high school diploma.

Special Education Students and 504 Students

Special Education/504 students must pass the HSEE to receive a high school diploma. The HSEE may be administered with appropriate accommodations as required in each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan. The attachment indicates the only accommodations/adaptations that may be provided.

It is imperative that all instructions in the School Coordinator's Manual and the Directions for Administration be followed carefully. Note particularly those sections that describe testing and security procedures (including procedures for the safekeeping and accounting of all test materials). It is critical that persons administering the test are completely familiar with the directions in the manual for sorting, packaging, sealing, and returning HSEE tests to the Testing Unit.

Schools will be notified of availability for pick-up of site materials upon district receipt of HSEE materials.

All materials are to be returned to the Testing Unit, Annex 3, by 4 p.m., the day immediately following the administration of any PORTION of the HSEE according to the following schedule. Each principal should complete all certification forms and return them according to the process outlined in the School Coordinator's Manual.

Traditional Calendar Schools

Reading/Writing All scorable English/Language Arts answer documents DUE by 4 p.m., Thursday, March 8, 2001

Mathematics All scorable Mathematics answer documents AND all non-scorable materials DUE by 4 p.m., Wednesday, March 14, 2001

Year-Round Calendar Schools

Reading/Writing All scorable English/Language Arts answer documents DUE by 4 p.m., Friday, May 18, 2001

Mathematics All scorable Mathematics answer documents AND all non-scorable materials DUE by 4 p.m., Friday, May 25, 2001.

Schools need to ensure that all directions in this circular, the School Coordinator’s Manual, and other materials provided by the state are closely followed to ensure correct processing and packaging of HSEE test materials.

School Coordinators should refer to the Specific School Coordinator Responsibilities after Testing section of the School Coordinator’s Manual for complete return instructions for each individual HSEE test. It is critical that persons administering the various tests are completely familiar with and follow the repackaging instructions in the manual. Remember:

• All student forms must include the student's official, complete, and correctly spelled first and last name (as in the district's Student Information System) and the correct student ID number.

• Tests must be sorted and repacked correctly.

• All materials must be counted, verified, and banded together.