It was a long time coming, but 14 former students were presented with their high school diplomas during a special graduation ceremony Jan. 6 inside the Live Oak High School Theater.
The group of graduates were retroactively granted their diplomas after the state eliminated the one requirement that prevented them from receiving one: passing the California High School Exit Examination. They had fulfilled all other graduation requirements.
In all, 47 former students (from 2003 through 2015) are now qualified to receive their high school diplomas thanks to the elimination of the CAHSEE, according to Morgan Hill Unified School District staff.
“Today is a page in your book entitled ‘Opportunity,’” said MHUSD Superintendent Betando in his commencement speech. “This is your ticket to open up your continued education in a four-year college, or the ability to get a job that requires a diploma. You can graduate on to further success.”
More than 100 family members and friends attended the graduation hosted by Morgan Hill Unified School District officials, trustees and faculty to show their support of the new graduates.
Cheers and applause filled the LOHS Theater on Wednesday evening as graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas. MHUSD Board President Bob Benevento, Vice President Ron Woolf and Trustee Donna Ruebusch also took part in the ceremony.
“All of our graduates fulfilled their graduation requirements set forth by MHUSD, and we are elated that they are now able to receive their rightfully earned diplomas and take on the next adventure in their lives,” said Betando after the ceremony. “We couldn’t be more proud.”
The CAHSEE was created by the California Department of Education more than a decade ago in order to have an exam that was linked to the state’s academic content standards, according district staff.
The test became obsolete with the adoption of the new Common Core State Standards. As a result, Senate Bills 725 and 125 were passed in August 2015, eliminating the CAHSEE exam as a graduation requirement and retroactively awarding diplomas to students who fulfilled all other requirements.
“All of our graduates fulfilled their graduation requirements set forth by MHUSD, and we are elated that they are now able to receive their rightfully earned diplomas and take on the next adventure in their lives.”
