The California High School Exit Exam, the SAT -ACT and the CHSPE

The CAHSEE is a test that is administered by the public school
systems only to public school students and is required for just
public school children's graduation requirements.

Private school children not only are not required to take this test they are allowed no access to it.
If you are schooling under a private school your child is not required to take the test.
If you were under a charter or public ISP, they would inform you of their protocol to take the exit exam.

The PSAT, SAT, SAT II's, AP exams and ACT are all actually tests from
private companies that are given through the public systems at
specific times of year, most likely at your local high school. Your
child still has access to taking these tests and should, depending on
his college plans. Please see the following sites for more
information:

http://www.collegeboard.com/splash


http://www.act.org/


Another important test for Independent Study families to consider is the
CHSPE or California High School Proficiency Exam which is given
to children at the close of tenth grade or after they turn 16. The
passing of this exam grants a Certificate of Proficiency which is accepted in lieu of a diploma. Please see the
following site for more information:

http://chspe.net/

It is important to understand that just passing the CHSPE does not
mean you must remove your child from high school---no matter what a
community college office may tell you. It is very common for many
school officials to have a glancing understanding of the laws of the
state.

This from the state's bulletin regarding the CHSPE:
Passing the CHSPE does not, by itself, exempt minors from attending
school.
Minors who have a Certificate of Proficiency must also have verified
parent/guardian permission to stop attending school.

Many students who pass the CHSPE continue to attend school.

State law provides that, if you leave school after passing
the CHSPE and are no more than 18 years old, you may reenroll in the
district in which you were registered with no adverse consequences.

Read more here:
http://chspe.net/forms/CHSPE_Bulletin_About_the_Test.pdf

It is also very true that depending on your local community college
you will run into extremely different 'rules' regarding concurrent
enrollment. Some will let a child take just about anything they wish.
Others have pre-testing requirements to see whether the child can
deal with the course-work. Others request a letter from a school
counselor etc. etc. The state's education codes actually have
provisions for children as young as Kindergarten age to take courses
through the community colleges which are of course public schools. It
is definitely not a "one size fits all program" which is both good
and bad depending on how it's working for your family.



Remember too that concurrent enrollment in your local community
college is an option for your child even without passing the CHSPE
and can be useful to build credits for your student. With some
exceptions those with 30 credits or more would enter a university
program as a sophomore or above.

The most important thing to realize is that the system can be tilted
very advantageously in your child's favor if you are proactive and
understand all of your family's options.