SACRAMENTO – California State Assembly Member Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) issued the following statement regarding the State Board of Education’s recent public meeting on alternatives to the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE).

“I am elated to learn that the Superintendent of Public Instruction is considering alternative assessments. I know we share the same concern that according to the HUMMRO report, approximately 100,000 students won’t receive their diploma in June 2006 because they have not yet passed the CAHSEE. It is my hope that the Superintendent of Public Instruction adopts state performance assessments to improve the exit exam in order to attain more accurate graduation outcomes.

“Today, in order to prevent the potential failure of 100,000 students, I urge the department to implement a stop-gap measure that would allow school districts to continue to award diplomas to students who have completed previous graduation requirements, as well as provide special acknowledgement on the diploma for those students who satisfy the exit exam requirement.

“In addition, I fully support the state in developing and implementing a state performance assessment that would allow those students who are regarded as highly proficient but are unable to pass the exit exam to display competency through receiving a passing score on the state performance assessment.

“Finally, I am fully committed to formulating policy that will provide assistance and high success rate for the Class of 2006 and beyond. The state should continue to provide supplemental instruction to those students who have not yet met the CAHSEE requirement and implement common sense policy rather than push forward a one- size fits all approach to obtaining a high school diploma.”