ACSA has sent a letter of opposition to the State Board of Education on proposed amendments to Title 5 regulations pertaining to the California High School Exit Exam.
The amendments aim to invalidate CAHSEE scores for any student who used a modification to take the test. ACSA believes it is not within SBE’s statutory authority to invalidate such scores in their entirety. Therefore the association is requesting the board simply adjust rather than invalidate the scores, allowing students to earn their high school diplomas.
While ACSA supports some proposed technical amendments, the objection is to changes to the definition of “modifications” that were intended to clarify the use of math formulas and American Sign Language, but which instead propose invalidating entire sections of the exam.
As ACSA pointed out in its letter to SBE: “There is a much larger concern with invalidating entire sections of CAHSEE when legally allowable and legally required modifications are used by special education students. Federal IDEA is very clear that local educators must not deny special education students who take the CAHSEE every modification possible to ensure they have access to curriculum and assessments.”
The letter went on to say: “We see no reason why our state testing experts can’t equate these scores so we do not deny students a high school diploma. The state places a high priority on adjusting testing scores to ensure the API is valid, yet we have focused little attention on adjusting the scores of special education students who must use a modification to demonstrate to their highest ability, knowledge tested on CAHSEE. The stakes are high, and we fear that unless the State Board addresses this inequity those who are critical of CAHSEE will continue to call for its elimination.
“It is fundamentally unfair to the student who in good faith takes CAHSEE with the required modifications pursuant to IDEA, to not receive a high school diploma because the state has not adjusted their scores taking into account a modification.
“This goes to the very heart of the concerns about ensuring that all students can demonstrate their knowledge despite their disability. We urge the State Board to support this amendment.”
The regulations will go out for 45 days for public comment. For more information, visit www.cde.ca.gov/be. The amendments are Item 4 on the July board agenda.