Theresa Harrington

Richmond Loftier Counselor Edel Alejandre, right, speaks to students who have been denied their diplomas because they were unable to take and pass the exit test after the July test was abruptly cancelled.

Theresa Harrington

Richmond High Counselor Edel Alejandre, right, speaks to students who accept been denied their diplomas because they were unable to take and pass the exit examination afterwards the July test was abruptly cancelled.

Students in the form of 2022 who haven't passed the California High School Exit Examination may be able to graduate soon, based on action planned this week in the Legislature.

In response to media coverage about students left with no recourse afterwards the California Department of Instruction abruptly canceled the July administration of the test, legislators acted swiftly to observe a quick fix when they came to work Monday later their summer break.

They earmarked SB 725 by Sen. Loni Hancock, D­-Oakland, dealing with visual and performing arts education, for "gut­-and­-amend" action on Midweek that will supersede linguistic communication in the original bill with new wording exempting the students from the requirement to pass the test to receive a diploma. An urgency clause volition exist added and the bill is expected to get to the full Assembly for a vote on Th, said David Rolland, spokesman for Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, D­-San Diego.

Atkins and Senate pro Tempore Kevin de Leon, D­-Los Angeles, issued a joint argument last Fri expressing concern well-nigh the 5,000 students throughout the state who weren't able to re­take the exam as planned, in order to fulfill California's graduation requirements.

"Nosotros intend to solve this issue as chop-chop as possible past proposing urgency legislation for these displaced students," the statement said. "These students are stuck in a bureaucratic limbo through no fault of their own and we are committed to helping them move forwards."

This was welcome news to several W Contra Costa school district students who were denied the opportunity to graduate with the rest of their class after they failed the May exam and were told no test would exist offered in July.

"I quit my job at Wendy'south so I could go to summertime school, because I know school's more than of import," said Brenda Diaz, an 18­-twelvemonth-­old Richmond Loftier pupil who lives in San Pablo. "I've been calling my counselor to observe out what's going on. They told me to just wait. I tin can't become a meliorate job considering I need my loftier schoolhouse diploma. I desire to go to higher."

Her classmate Felipe Campos, 17, said he needs his diploma then he can bring together the military. "I don't understand any of this," said Campos, a Richmond resident who missed passing the English and math exams by only 10 points. "I'm kind of mad. It's of import considering I'thousand studying for a exam to enter the Army. If I don't have my diploma, I don't take a chance to get in."

Richmond High student Brenda Diaz holds letter informing her she cannot graduate because she didn't pass the CAHSEE.

Theresa Harrington

Richmond High student Brenda Diaz holds letter informing her she cannot graduate because she didn't pass the go out examination.

Their advisor Edel Alejandre was so upset most the country's determination and the district'southward failure to immediately notify those affected that he wrote to the governor and the district school lath about his 28 students who accept had to put their lives on hold.

"They didn't accept the kids into consideration," he said. "How can you not have taken into account the feelings of the parents and the students? I had to tell them and it was not pleasant."

Some panicked students even called him while he was on vacation in United mexican states to seek his communication.

The Department of Education canceled the July assistants of the exam because the contract with the testing company, Educational Testing Service, did not include any tests after May. Department officials were pending direction from the state Legislature nearly replacing the exit exam before taking action on the contract.

Senate Beak 172 by Sen. Carol Liu, D­-Canada Flintridge, proposes to suspend the exit exam for students in graduating classes between 2014­-15 and 2017­-18 to give the state fourth dimension to consider alternatives based on new Common Cadre standards, according to the Department of Educational activity's recommendation. It is expected to be considered later this month.

Alejandre was impressed past the San Francisco Unified School District Board's decision concluding Friday to defy state law and issue diplomas to its students who had fulfilled all graduation requirements except for passing the exit examination. He said he wished the West Contra Costa school board would take similar activeness.

W Contra Costa Trustee Randy Enos said he would be willing to follow San Francisco's lead, just he couldn't speak for the rest of the lath.

"Personally, I retrieve information technology's really important that we right this so those young people can go alee and graduate without having to go through a whole lot of problems, because they've been through quite a chip already," he said.

Just Todd Groves, president of the West Contra Costa school board, said he would be hesitant to issue diplomas that might not exist considered valid.

"This is sending ripples throughout the education system," he said. "This policy indecision at the land level has been painful. We were assuming the legislation would exist passed much earlier."

The San Francisco school lath took matters into its own hands after some students complained that their admission to land universities had been rescinded because they were unable to complete the test graduation requirement. The land's decision to rescind the final examination administration "disproportionately affected students of color, English learners and socioeconomically disadvantaged students," according to a district news release.

"Students, when yous raise your voice and need justice, justice will be done," Superintendent Richard Carranza said.

The country has non taken any activity to invalidate the diplomas, said Gentle Blythe, spokeswoman for the San Francisco district, in a phone interview. In addition, she said some other districts may consider similar action.

"We've been in discussion with other districts even prior to the board policy change, and had a lot of involvement," she said. "But I tin't speak for any other district in terms of what their actual plans are."

The California Country University system announced Tuesday that it would allow incoming first­-time freshmen to starting time classes if their high school transcripts show no graduation date due to the cancellation of the go out examination.

"California high school graduates who aspire to enroll at a CSU campus and meet all other requirements for admission to the CSU will non exist turned away considering of the conclusion to cancel the test," said Loren Blanchard, CSU executive vice chancellor, in a prepared statement.

Nib Ainsworth, communications director for the land Department of Instruction, said in an electronic mail that the country would not penalize San Francisco Unified or any other district that issues diplomas to students in the class of 2022 who met all graduation requirements except passing the exit exam.

"This is a rare event that we know will not exist repeated again," he said.

University of California spokeswoman Dianne Klein said she was not aware of any students admitted who were afflicted by the exit exam cancellation.

If the Assembly approves SB 725 as amended, it would move onto the Senate for approval and could exist signed past the governor inside days. Once signed, it would become into effect immediately.

Staff author Sarah Tully contributed to this report.

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