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This Year the Golden State Exam is May 19 and 20
Your student can earn state recognition for academic achievement in two ways - through the Golden State Examination (GSE) and the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma.
Since 1987, thousands of students in California's public schools have been recognized for outstanding achievement on one or more of the state's Golden State Examinations. In 1996, state law established the Golden State Diploma to further recognize public school students who earn high honors, honors, or recognition levels of achievement on six or more Golden State Examinations during their school career.
Achievement on the GSE is noted on students' permanent transcripts and included in applications for college, universities, and military appointments. This recognition also signals high academic achievement to future employers.
Students should be encouraged to take advantage of these two opportunities to demonstrate academic excellence.
Golden State Seal Merit Diploma - 2003
Questions and Answers
What is the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma?
Assembly Bill 3488, approved July 1996, called for the development of the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma (Golden State Diploma) to recognize public school graduates who have demonstrated mastery of the high school curriculum in designated content areas. More than 22,000 Golden State Diplomas have been awarded: 1,418 to 1997 graduates, 2,739 to 1998 graduates, 5,131 to 1999 graduates, 6,001 to year 2000 graduates. To date, 6,762 diplomas have been awarded to 2001 graduates.
How do students qualify for the Golden State Diploma?
Students must attain high honors, honors, or recognition designations on six Golden State Examinations to be eligible for the Golden State Diploma. Currently, these achievement levels must be reached on the Golden State Examinations in U.S. History, Written Composition or Reading/Literature, a mathematics exam, a science exam, and two other Golden State Examinations of the student's choice.
What Golden State Examinations are currently offered?
There currently are thirteen Golden State Examinations offered: first-year algebra, geometry, high school mathematics, U.S. history, economics, government/civics, biology, chemistry, second-year coordinated science, physics, reading/literature, written composition, and second-year Spanish language.
Which Golden State Examinations can be used for the optional exams?
Once students have taken the four required exams, other Golden State Examinations can be used as the two optional exams. Currently, this would include exams in math, language arts, and science not used for the requirements and the economics, government/civics, and second-year Spanish language exams.
Can students take the exams at any time after completing the courses?
Students who are enrolled in a Golden State Examination (GSE) subject area at the time the examination is given and students who took the course since the previous test administration may take the exam. Exceptions are written composition, reading/literature, high school mathematics, and second-year Spanish language. The exams in language arts and high school mathematics are designed to test mastery of the high school curriculum and are not attached to a specific course. Students in either grade eleven or twelve can take the exams in written composition and reading/literature. The high school mathematics examination is intended for students who have completed three years of high school mathematics. The exam covers the content included in the state standards for algebra I, geometry, algebra II, and probability and statistics. Students completing a second-year integrated mathematics course may take either the first-year algebra exam, the geometry exam, or both. Students may take the second-year Spanish language examination at the end of their second year of high school Spanish or its equivalent. Students are eligible to take each GSE only one time.
How can students apply for the diploma?
Individual students do not need to apply to the state for the Golden State Diploma. This is done on their behalf by their school districts through a certification form that districts forward to the state.
Do districts need to send student records to the CDE as part of the certification?
No. Each spring the California Department of Eduacation (CDE) sends a certification form to each district. The district is to list each eligible student, and the district's superintendent's signature is to certify that the students listed have met the Golden State Diploma requirements.
How do districts verify student records?
Districts are responsible for keeping records of individual Golden State Examination accomplishments. In 1997, each district received a data disk containing GSE results from previous years to help compile individual records of achievement. Districts will continue to receive disks with GSE results following each administration of the exams.
What does the Golden State Diploma look like?
The Golden State Diploma follows a traditional diploma design with the official state seal in gold and is signed by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, the President of the State Board of Education, and the District Superintendent and Board President.
When will the Golden State Examinations be given in 2003?
May 19 and 20
Will the results from winter and spring testing be back in time for graduation?
Every effort is made to have the Golden State Examination results from winter testing distributed to districts and schools during the month of May. Spring results are distributed in October.
More questions
Help
Desk/Questions
For answers to other GSE questions, please call
Paul Michelson, Standards and Assessment Division at (916) 319-0353 or
Les Axelrod, Standards and Assessment Division, (916) 319-0337.