State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell recently announced the results of the May administration of the California High School Exit Exam (CAHSEE).

Results show that an estimated 90.8 percent of students in the Class of 2006 have passed both the English-language arts and the mathematics portions of the CAHSEE, including an additional 1,759 students who passed the May administration of the exam.

"While I will not be satisfied until all California students are successful in gaining the skills measured by the exit exam, I am pleased that the achievement gap is narrowing," O'Connell said. "It is clear that all students are working hard to gain the critical skills necessary for a diploma and for survival in today's global economy. I credit the exit exam for focusing both students and schools on meeting this challenge. We need to sustain this effort until the achievement gap is erased completely."

Eighty-five percent of Hispanic students in the Class of 2006 have passed the test, with 19.7 percent passing during the junior year and nearly 11 percent passing in their senior year. By comparison, 11.5 percent of white students passed as juniors and 4.1 percent of white students passed as seniors. Eighty-three percent of African American students have passed the test, with 20.6 percent passing as juniors and 12 percent passing as seniors.

The percentage of English language learners passing the test has increased by 24.3 percent during the junior year and nearly 17 points during the senior year, for a total of 76.6 percent passing the CAHSEE. Economically disadvantaged students in the Class of 2006 have also shown tremendous progress, with 20.1 percent passing during the junior year and 10.8 percent passing the test as seniors, for an 85.7 percent total passing rate.

An estimated 40,173 students in the Class of 2006, about 9 percent, have not yet met the CAHSEE requirement.

"I urge these students to continue to work in summer school, take a fifth year of high school, or study in adult school or community college to acquire those important skills in English and math," O'Connell said. "This exam benefits students who are still struggling by focusing them on areas they need to strengthen so they can have more successful futures."

Students who have not yet passed one or both portions of the

exit exam can continue to take the exam until they pass. O'Connell sponsored extra funding in the budget for intensive remediation programs, independent study programs and adult school programs for students still struggling to pass the exam.

"I am proud of our students, particularly those who struggle to pass but keep studying until they do. And I am proud of our schools for doing what it takes to help every student succeed," O'Connell said.