| Acronym | CHSPE |
|---|---|
| Type | Paper-based, early-exit testing program |
| Administrator | California State Board of Education |
| Skills tested | Mathematics, English-language arts (reading and writing)[1] |
| Purpose | Early-exit from high school |
| Year started | 1974 |
| Year terminated | 2023 |
| Duration | 3.5 hours[1] |
| Score range | 250–450 (multiple-choice) and 1-5 (writing).[1] |
| Offered | Thrice annually |
| Regions | California |
| Languages | English |
| Prerequisites | Age 16+ or enrolled in at least two semesters of 10th grade[1] |
| Fee | $230 (2020-2021) |
| Website | cde |
The California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE) was an early exit testing program established under California law (California Education Code Section 48412). Testers who passed the CHSPE received a high school equivalency (HSE) diploma granted by the California State Board of Education.[1]
All individuals and institutions subject to California law that require a high school diploma are required to accept the CHSPE diploma as requirement fulfillment. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has ruled it acceptable in federal civilian employment applications, and the U.S. Department of Education recognizes the CHSPE as a high school diploma equivalent for various purposes, including financial aid applications.[1] The University of California system accepts the Certificate of Proficiency awarded by the State Board of Education upon successful completion of CHSPE.[2]
In 2023, the exam program was discontinued and replaced by the California Proficiency Program. This was due to the SAT10, the examination the CHSPE was based on, becoming obsolete and the new CPP being administered by the HiSET and GED.[3]
17-18Bulletin was invoked but never defined (see the help page).