Democrats in the Senate introduced SB 122 – a bill to suspend the high school exit exam, which was mandatory for graduation, for three years. In reaction to the pending bill, state superintendent of public instruction Tom Torlakson stopped offering the exit exam to students this year.

The bill is not out of the Legislature yet, though. Until the status of the bill changes, California law still mandates students to pass a now non-existent exam to graduate.

According to a news release from Assembly Republican Communications, there are reports that universities are denying entrance to recent California high school graduates due to a lack of a high school diploma because of the situation.

Democratic leaders are working to fix the situation. Republicans in the Assembly said they support solving the situation as quickly as possible.

Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly Speaker Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) released a joint statement regarding the 5,000 California students who aren’t able to re-take the exit exam.

“The Legislature is well aware of the problem facing many California students who are unable to attend college or are unable to work or join the military because they were not able to re-take the High School Exit Exam,” the statement read. “We intend to solve this issue as quickly as possible by proposing urgency legislation for these displaced students. These students are stuck in a bureaucratic limbo through no fault of their own and we are committed to helping them move forward.”