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
