Hundreds of students who were unable to obtain a diploma because they failed the high school exit exam can now officially receive that diploma according to the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District.
For several years, high school students were required to pass the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) in order to graduate. California created the exit exam to ensure students graduate from high school with grade-level skills in reading, writing, and math. The law was suspended by an act of Gov. Jerry Brown.
Now thanks to that recent state law, SMJUHS will issue about 750 diplomas to former students who failed the test but completed all other district graduation requirements.
The new state law—Senate Bill 172—allows students from Righetti, Santa Maria, Pioneer Valley, and Delta high schools to receive a diploma even if they never passed the CAHSEE. The law, which takes effect after Jan. 1, covers students who received a certificate of completion or completed some courses in adult school during the 2006 to 2014 school years.
Alumni should go to their former school site and see the registrar who will confirm identification. School staff will review student records, update the diploma status in the district’s system, collect new address information, and make arrangements for the diploma to be issued my mail, according to John Davis, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.
The diplomas are free and will carry a state-mandated date of 2016. Former students should receive their diplomas in four to six weeks after conducting the district.
This article appears in Dec 24-31, 2015.
