Poor News Network describes a disturbing state-wide education policy impacting low-income youth and immigrant youth across California. According to Olivia Araiza, Program Director with Justice Matters Institute, the new high school exit exam imposes a penalty beyond anything mandated by the infamous No Child Left Behind act; it is estimated that the examination will deny diplomas to over 100,000 high school students in 2006, "creating a permanent underclass ... mandated by the state." The Governator recently vetoed AB 1531 and SB 385, which respectively would have allowed school districts to develop alternatives to the mandatory high school exit exam, and allowed students to take the exam in their first language instead of only English. Full story: A State-Mandated Underclass