IHSS program in California?

How many of you live or have lived in California and have heard about the CHSPE or Concurrent Enrollment program prior to this posting?

• The CHSPE is an exam anyone in the second semester of 10th grade or higher or is aged 16+ can take to receive the legal equivalent of a high school diploma, with which they can legally test-out of high school. Many take it in the 10th or 11th grade and move onto a community college or vocational course. Because community college classes are usually no more difficult than the latter portion of high school and the students who take it are often self-studies, they usually find success in college. According to the law behind it, schools with 11th and 12th grade students are only required to inform those students once per year, in advance of the Fall administration of the exam - because high schools stand to lose money if students leave early, they have a strong disincentive to inform people beyond this. The CHSPE has been around since 1975. The Concurrent Enrollment program has been around for a few decades also. In its current form, it allows students to dually enroll in community college and high school classes, and have the cost of their college classes under 11 units paid for by a state program. While districts vary in who they allow to take the exam, people only in 7th or 8th grade have been known to take advantage of the program. Although California high schools have at least 2 million students, only 200,000 take advantage of this program each year. For whatever reason, most high schools don't inform students of this program unless asked about it. What do you think of these programs? Did you know about them prior to this posting and, if so, who informed you? Would you have cared to have known about these during your school career if these things are new to you? What ways do you think students and parents can be better informed about these options, and what role do you think schools should take in informing them about these things?

• Answer:

  I do live in California, but I'm not so stupid and/or lazy that I can't pass high school. I have heard of Concurrent Enrollment. It seems like a fine program, but I never had any use for it.