Valenzuela/CAHSEE Settlement

Since the settlement, CCSESA has worked to develop training materials for county superintendents to comply with the legislation. For more information, contact the CCSESA office at (916) 446-3095.

 

Background

In 2007, Assembly Bill 347, introduced by Assembly Member Nava, enacted statutory changes that embody the settlement agreement of the parties to the Valenzuela v. O'Connell lawsuit, and establishes new oversight and monitoring responsibilities for county superintendents.

The class action lawsuit filed against the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education alleged that some students, especially those living in poverty, do not have equal opportunity to learn the materials tested on the California High School Exit Exam (CaHSEE), and that some schools do not offer a curriculum fully aligned with state standards and the test.

The bill provides that students must be offered intensive instruction and services for up to two additional years if they have not passed one or both parts of the CaHSEE by completion of the 12th grade. To implement this provision, the bill requires:

  1. Posting a notice in the classrooms of schools with grades 10, 11, and 12 informing pupil's of their right to receive intensive instruction and services for up to two additional years, or until passage of the exit exam, if they fail to pass the CaHSEE by the end of the twelfth grade.
  2. Providing a method as part of the Uniform Complaint Process for students to file a complaint.
  3. Providing written notice of eligibility to each pupil that is eligible for continued instructional services after the 12th grade. This notice must be sent to the last known address by the end of each term.
  4. Ensuring that eligible pupils have the opportunity to receive intensive instruction and services as needed, and that eligible English learners have services as needed to improve English proficiency.


County Superintendents must perform oversight and monitoring functions to ensure these requirements are fulfilled.

Database of county office coordinators.

Staff Contact

Gaye Smoot
Assistant Executive Director
1121 L Street, Suite 510
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 446-3095
gsmoot@ccsesa.org