Freshman, Juniors, and Seniors will not be able to enjoy their anticipated two mornings off this year due to the three year suspension of the CAHSEE. After the test contract expired leaving thousands of students’ 2015 graduation status unclear, Governor Jerry Brown has agreed to sign legislation to exempt students from the formerly required exit exam. While this bureaucratic mistake has led to objection from some high school faculty and parents regarding a lack of high school exit barriers, California senators like Carol Liu see this as an opportunity to “revamp” and modernize the exam. Recognizing the outdated nature of the CAHSEE exam, Liu proposes to adjust the exam to align better with the new California standards over the next three years.

Suzanne Reed, the chief of staff for Senator Liu, who sponsors the bill says “There are some folks who opposed suspending the exit exam, saying we need something to hold (students) to some standards…but these are standards that the students have not had the opportunity to meet”

Senior Elizabeth Bullo agrees, saying “The CAHSEE has a reputation for being really, really easy so maybe this will be seen as a chance for administration to follow curriculum more accurately…the sophomores who will have to take it will be in for a surprise…I know the pass rate is really high, so when they modify it, maybe it will be harder.”

While the CAHSEE may be seen as an easy exam to some students, the exam has historically set an unfairly high standard for students who are learning English as their second language. Troy Flint, a spokesperson for the Oakland Unified School District says, “These children are the victims of bureaucratic mismanagement.” Flint says that many of the district’s 221 students that were affected are immigrants who have struggled to learn English.

This surely calls for a revised version of the CAHSEE that provides an equal opportunity for success to all students in California. With a three year suspension of the exam, hopefully the proper revisions will be made.

Most sophomores on campus approve of this new cancellation, and are happy to be skipping out on an exam. Thankful to not have to take the test this spring, sophomore Sarah Mosley says, “Thank god we don’t have to take it… I’m definitely relieved.”

Most seniors are disappointed about missing out on the two mornings off. Bre White says, “I was excited when I heard they got rid of it but, then I realized we couldn’t sleep in. I’ll probably come late anyways.”