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State Education Reforms (SER)

Table 1.11. State high school exit exams, by exam characteristics and state: 2006–07
 
State Current exam Consequences begin/
began for class of
Subjects tested Type of test
Grade level of align-
ment
Grade test first admin-
istered
Prior exit exam or exit exam being phased out
Alabama1 Alabama High School Graduation Exam (AHSGE) Third Edition 2001 Reading, language, math, science, social studies Standards-based 11 10 Alabama High School Graduation Exam (AHSGE) 1st and 2nd Editions
Alaska Alaska High School Graduation Qualifying Exam (HSGQE) 2004 Reading, writing, math Standards-based 8–10 10 None
Arizona Arizona's Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) 2006 Reading, writing, math Standards-based 10 10 None
Arkansas Arkansas Comprehensive Assessment Program 2010 Literacy, algebra 1, geometry End-of-course Literacy (grade 11), algebra 1 and geometry (aligned to course content) Varies None
California California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) 2006 English/language arts, math Standards-based English/ language arts (through grade 10), math (grades 6–7 and algebra I) 10 None
   
Colorado No current exit exam
Connecticut No current exit exam
Delaware No current exit exam
District of Columbia No current exit exam
Florida Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) 2003 Reading, math, writing (2010) Standards-based 10 10 High School Competency Test (HSCT)
   
Georgia Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) 1994 English/ language arts, writing, math, science, social studies Standards-based 9–11 11 Basic Skills Test
Hawaii No current exit exam
Idaho Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) 2006 Reading, language usage, math, science Standards-based 10 10 None
Illinois No current exit exam
Indiana Graduation Qualifying Exam (GQE) 2000 English/language arts (through grade 9), math (through pre-algebra and algebra I) Standards-based 9 10 None
   
Iowa No current exit exam
Kansas No current exit exam
Kentucky No current exit exam
Louisiana Graduation Exit Examination (GEE) 2003 English/language arts, math, science, social studies Standards-based 9–12 10 Graduation Exit Exam
Maine No current exit exam
   
Maryland Maryland High School Assessment (HSA) 2009 2 English II, algebra/data analysis, biology, government End-of-course 10 Varies Maryland Functional Tests
Massachusetts Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) 2003 English/language arts, math, science (2010), U.S. history (2012) Standards-based plus end-of-course exams in science (2010) and U.S. history (2012) 10 Grade 10; science will vary None
Michigan No current exit exam
Minnesota Graduation Required Assessment for Diploma (GRAD)3 2010 Reading, writing, math Standards-based Writing (grade 9), reading (grade 10), math (grade 11) Writing (grade 9), reading (grade 10), math (grade 11) Basic Skills Test (BST)
Mississippi Mississippi Subject Area Testing Program (SATP) 2006 English II (with writing component), algebra I, biology I, U.S. history from 1877 End-of-course Aligned to course content Varies Functional Literacy Examination (FLE)
   
Missouri No current exit exam
Nebraska No current exit exam
Nevada High School Proficiency Examination (HSPE) 2003 Reading, writing, math, science (2008) Standards-based 9–12 10 High School Proficiency Examination (earlier version based on 1994 curriculum)
New Hampshire No current exit exam
New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) 2003 Language arts literacy, math; starting 2010, end-of-course exam in biology Standards-based, plus one end-of-course (2010) 11 Grade 11; biology will vary High School Proficiency Test (grade 11)
   
New Mexico New Mexico High School Competency Examination (NMHSCE) 1990 Reading, language arts, composition, math, science, social studies Minimum competency 8 10 None
New York Regents Examinations 2000 English/language arts, math, science, social studies, language other than English End-of-course 9–12 Varies Regents Competency Tests
North Carolina North Carolina Competency Tests and Tests of Computer Skills 1982 (math/reading); 2001 (computer skills); 2010 end-of-course exams Reading comprehension, math, computer skills; starting in 2010, end-of-course exams in algebra I, English I, U.S. history, civics, economics, biology Standards-based, plus five end-of-course exams beginning in 2010 8 Grade 8; end-of-course exams will vary None
North Dakota No current exit exam
Ohio Ohio Graduation Tests (OGT) 2007 Reading, writing, math, science, social studies Standards-based 10 10 Proficiency Tests (grade 9)
   
Oklahoma Oklahoma End-of-Instruction (EOI) Exams 2012 English II, English III, algebra I, algebra II, geometry, biology I, U.S. history End-of-course High school standards Varies None
Oregon No current exit exam
Pennsylvania No current exit exam
Rhode Island No current exit exam
South Carolina High School Assessment Program (HSAP) 2006 English/ language arts, math, science (2010), U.S. history (2010) Standards-based, plus two end-of-course exams in science and history (2010) Through grade 10 Grade 10; end-of-course exams will vary Basic Skills Assessment Program (BSAP)
   
South Dakota No current exit exam
Tennessee Gateway Examinations 2005 English II, algebra I, biology I End-of-course 10 Varies Tennessee Competency Test
Texas Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS)3 2005 English/language arts (reading/writing), math, science, social studies Standards-based Aligned to course content 11 Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS)
Utah No current exit exam
Vermont No current exit exam
   
Virginia Standards of Learning (SOL) End-of-Course Exams 2004 English (reading/writing), algebra I, algebra II, geometry, biology, earth science, chemistry, world history to 1500, world history from 1500, Virginia and U.S. history, world geography End-of-course Aligned to course content Varies Literacy Passport Test
Washington Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) 2008 Reading, writing, math (2013), science (2013) Standards-based 10 10 None
West Virginia No current exit exam
Wisconsin No current exit exam
Wyoming No current exit exam
Not applicable. State does not currently have an exit exam.
1 Alabama currently administers the Alabama High School Graduation Exam (AHSGE), 3rd Edition, for which consequences began for the class of 2001. The exam assesses reading, language, math, science, and social studies, and is considered by the state to be a standards-based exam aligned to 11th-grade standards. The exam is administered for the first time in 10th grade. The current test replaced the Alabama High School Graduation Exam, 1st and 2nd editions.
2 Maryland is considering delaying the requirement for students with disabilities and English language learners. The state will use results from the 2007 testing period to determine the number of years to exempt these subgroups.
3 Minnesota and Texas will transition to new exams. Minnesota is transitioning from the Basic Skills Test (BST) to the Graduation Required Assessment for Diploma (GRAD) test. The state will continue to withhold diplomas based on the BST until 2009. The class of 2010 will be the first class required to pass the new GRAD requirement. Texas students entering 9th grade in 2011 will be the first required to pass the state's 12 new end-of-course exams. The first class required to pass the new exams will be the class of 2013.
SOURCE: State High School Exit Exams: Working to Raise Test Scores, "Exit Exam Survey of State Education Officials", Center on Education Policy, 2007. Data Source