A lawsuit (Valenzuela v. O’Connell et al) was filed in February 2006 challenging the California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE).  The lawsuit was settled pending enactment of AB-347.  AB-347 was signed into law on October 12, 2007 and expands the services available to students who have not yet passed the CAHSEE for up to two consecutive years after completion of grade twelve.  Students covered under the terms of AB-347 attended the twelfth grade in either of the prior two school years.  School Districts and Charter Schools serving students in grades 10-12 that received funding from the Intensive Service and Instruction and the Middle and High School Counseling programs are affected by this settlement.

AB-347 also includes an oversight component that requires the local County Office of Education to review and verify that each affected School District and Charter School is complying with the provisions of the settlement.

More information about the Valenzuela Settlement can be found on the California Department of Education’s webpage at:

http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr07/yr07rel100.asp