California at the Crossroads: Embracing the Cahsee and Moving Forward

It will come as no surprise to most of you that the EdTrust—West supports the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE). We’ve been one of the only organizations — and perhaps the only civil rights organization — that does. Our decision didn’t come easy. The CAHSEE is by far the most wrenching issue any organization that cares about making public education work better for poor kids and kids of color has to contend with. Why? At its core, this test challenges every belief one holds about student and school potential, and embodies a new kind of responsibility for student achievement — one borne by educators and students alike. And that makes people angry and afraid.