Helping Students Pass the CAHSEEE on Their Second Attempt

Creating a Revolutionary path to achievement

Oakland USD began using Revolution K12’s CAHSEE Intervention program in 2007, targeting 11th and 12th grade students who had failed the exam at least once. Passing rates for these students rose considerably. In an open vote teachers chose to renew the program for the coming year and lauded it as easy to use and engaging for students.

While gains for this initial group were impressive, overall performance in the district was not what it needed to be. Too many students were failing the CAHSEE on their first administration, and for many of them, even a semester-long intervention program was not enough to fill the deep, fundamental skill-gaps that had prevented their success. Faced with academic challenges developed over many years, the district took the long view on addressing those challenges.

Web-based program helps every step of the way

Working closely with Revolution K12, Oakland USD began a three-tier approach to boosting student achievement. Starting in Summer School, students in need of deep math intervention were placed in an Algebra Readiness “boot camp” program, where Revolution’s web-based tools identified and helped to re-teach key concepts that these students had missed. For the second tier, there was a CAHSEE preparation program for 10th grade students prior to their first attempt, both after school and integrated into the school day. Finally, the district continued its successful intervention program for students who had not passed.

Breaking the cycle of failure before it begins

The results of the district’s comprehensive approach are beginning to come in, and the impact is clear: students who use Revolution K12’s programs for Algebra Readiness and CAHSEE preparation are far more likely to pass the CAHSEE the first time. Students who pass never receive the blow to their self esteem and motivation of being told they might not graduate, which means they stay in school and work toward that goal.