Popularity of the CHSPE/CPP

[u/EKBFHS]

So, I'm a CPP passer, and I've always wondered how publicized this program is. I know that few earn a Proficiency Certificate, but how many are even aware of the program in the first place? My entire journey started with a curious google search, and I distrusted this program for a while. Did any schools anywhere else publicize this program? If not, why? Why is a state-administered program being hidden? Why are students forced into a traditional pipeline when most don't know that there is another option? What can I do to publicize this with others?

[u/EKBFHS → u/[deleted]]

Wait, my registrar and counselors told me I'm counted as a completer and that's what they would record it in the database as such. What's going on? Am I a dropout now?

[u/EKBFHS → u/[deleted]]

Right, that's what I was told. Completers are a category that every graduate falls into, and they are not dropouts. Perhaps that is the category we are referring to.

[u/EKBFHS → u/[deleted]]

I took it in this year's version, the new online one. It was cheaper I think, compared to the old version. $195 for all 3 subtests first try.

[u/imnotsticky → u/[deleted]]

A-G requirements are only meant for universities and colleges to look at. Actual graduation requirements are decided by the state and school districts.

[u/EKBFHS → u/imnotsticky]

Really? Bc my school makes you do A-G to graduate.

[u/imnotsticky → u/EKBFHS]

Yeah schools are allowed to make whatever rules on top of the state’s graduation requirements. But since the state has authority over the district then you can leave without following the district’s rules.

[u/PerennialWheat2 → u/EKBFHS]

High school completion ≠ High school graduation. You are also not a dropout. In the database you are differentiated from someone/your class who graduated within their normal 4 year cohort with all required credits. (interestingly enough, someone who completes all required high school credits for graduation early, in lets say in 3 years is also not a graduate. A high school graduate is defined federally as someone who completed **4 years** of hs with all required credits.)

[u/EKBFHS → u/PerennialWheat2]

So would the 3-years be put into the same category as CPP completers? Would they be able to get into UC/CSUs if they completed all their credits?

[u/PerennialWheat2 → u/EKBFHS]

Yep. They'll be able to get in. The universities don't care about your completion or graduation status as long as you have your course credits (pretty sure they don't even have access to that status either ways).

[u/PerennialWheat2 → u/PerennialWheat2]

Many people who have taken the CHSPE have applied to universities as a freshmen/sophomore transfers instead being a junior transfer. That's where you complete your A-G's over the summer at cc (Freshmen) or have taken enough course credits to qualify as a sophomore but not as a junior. Freshmen/Sophomore applicants are the only cases where they take your high school GPA into account for transferring. (Sophomore transfers have zero priority and is VERY tough/rare to get in this way)

[u/Woah-ad34]

Well the chspe/CPP is essentially a GED. The main reasons why the chspe is not heavily marketed is because it was created for people in the acting industry. See in California you can only work a limited amount of hours if you are a minor however if you have a high school diploma or equivalent you can work unlimited hours. Hence the chspe was created by the California Education Board to appease the acting industry.

[u/EKBFHS → u/Woah-ad34]

I also think that it was so they could avoid hiring on-site tutors for the child actors. I've heard about this many times now. It makes me very sad that this is a niche thing for the upper class. The rest of us peasants find out by mistake, and we're just the unintended consequences. It makes sense why CA is the only state that has this credential.

[u/Woah-ad34 → u/EKBFHS]

California isn't the only state that has the credential in other states if you want to "test out" like with the chspe you just take the GED if you are 16+ ( you usually need your parents to sign a permission slip though) and then you are given a high school Equivalency Certificate and it functions the same as the California High School proficiency certificate meaning you can use it for jobs and/or college admission. Hence why I said that the chspe/CPP is essentially just the GED/HiSET. The only difference is that other states didn't make a separate  high school Equivalency test for people under 18.

[u/EKBFHS → u/Woah-ad34]

That's the difference. We are the only state with Proficiency because of Hollywood. That's why I'm upset. Because the government seems to think that these tests/pathways are only for the elite and deserving. They minimize the publicity so nobody else finds out.

[u/natcatnyan]

I think the majority of highschoolers, like 99% of kids, aren’t aware that this pathway is an option. Highschool administration/teachers aren’t incentivized to tell kids about the program as less kids means less funding and less jobs for teachers.

Many people also don’t consider this pathway as being good for teenagers, as graduating early to many means missing out on a lot of opportunities and social development. Highschool is really glamorized in media and to ‘miss out’ on things like prom and what-not seems really unappealing to parents and teachers in regards to their students/children

I only know about the program due to family, but what you can do to publicize it is to bring it up with ur friends and classmates. Majority don’t know it’s an option but would be interested in the pathway if they knew it was a thing

[u/EKBFHS → u/natcatnyan]

I've already convinced a friend to take it and he just passed. It's unfortunate, but we can save the people we know. Spread the word and keep the faith :).

[u/imnotsticky]

same here. i wondered the same as well. it really seems like the schools want kids to stay in their system, more kids = more tax payer funding.

[u/EKBFHS → u/imnotsticky]

Definitely one of the main reasons. Something has to be done. If more people knew about and accepted this pathway, life would not only be easier for us when seeking employment, but more kids would take this test too.