in accordance with recommendations made by the california's department of education, rocklin unified school district students are taught using a standards-based curriculum; each student much fulfill a set of essential skills before they are allowed to pass the class. the program is initially implemented in district elementary schools. for some classes, like english, essential skills may be demonstrated by receiving a passing grade on assigned essays or tests. in classes like mathematics, essential skills must be demonstrated by receiving a passing grade in specific skills on cumulative tests. in addition, whs policy does not allow f or d grades. any grade below a grade of c is considered a no mark (nm) or a no credit (nc); the class must then be repeated to get a passing grade. this plan attempts to prepare students for the california high school exit exam, or cahsee test, which they are expected to pass prior to graduation; cahsee is provided to students during their second year. the test covers grade 6–10 language arts concepts, as well as pre-algebraic and algebra i mathematics.