More than 180 additional high school students who attended San Bernardino City Unified (SBCUSD) schools will receive a diploma after all.
Senate Bill 725, signed by Governor Jerry Brown in late August, suspended the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE) for the Class of 2015, allowing graduating seniors who had not fulfilled this graduation requirement to still receive a diploma. Concerned that students would be prevented from enrolling in college or the military or qualifying for jobs that require a diploma, lawmakers introduced the legislation, which went into effect immediately.
Jhony Ocampo Ordonez couldn’t stop smiling when he found out he would be trading his certificate of completion for an actual high school diploma. Jhony took the exit exam three times while at Pacific High School before running out of chances.
“I feel really good about having my diploma,” Ordonez said. “Now that I have it, I can go to college.”
The SBCUSD has 182 former students who had met all other graduation requirements and will now receive a high school diploma thanks to the reprieve. Superintendent Dr. Dale Marsden applauded students’ efforts to graduate from high school.
“We commend their efforts in completing the course credits for high school graduation,” Marsden said. “A high school diploma is essential for a brighter future. We hope this clears the way for students to pursue higher education.”
The District’s high school registrars will be contacting students in the Class of 2015 who had previously received a certificate of completion because they had not passed the exit exam. Registrars will notify students when they can pick up their diplomas.