For nearly 8 years until its end in 2002, Educational Data Systems supported the administration of the California Golden State Examination (GSE). As a key player in a multi-agency partnership, EDS distributed and collected nearly 1 million exams annually, coordinated scoring of open-ended responses at sites statewide, prepared reports for the state, districts, schools and individuals, and supported field testing and development of new GSE items each year.

The GSE offered rigorous examinations in key academic subjects for students in grades 7-12, recognizing students who demonstrated outstanding levels of achievement on each examination.