California settles high school exit exam lawsuit

The San Jose Mercury News reports:

East Bay students who sued over the exit exam have reached a tentative settlement with the state, California schools superintendent Jack O’Connell announced Thursday.

The settlement is contingent on passage of state legislation that would entitle 12th graders who fail the exam to two more years of instruction.

The settlement would cement the California High School Exit Exam as a prerequisite for graduation, ending years of confusion over its legal validity.

“Final agreement to this proposed settlement will put to rest this challenge, leaving the exit exam in place,” O’Connell said in his statement.