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Posted:  January 11, 2008

District Testing Initiatives

TO:  Principals, Assistant Principals, and Vice Principals

• Final Exam Exemptions for Juniors and Seniors

• TAKS Option

• TAKS Waiver Calendar and Late Arrival

If you have questions regarding these district initiatives, please let me know.

Tracie Fraley
Division Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning
tfraley@irvingisd.net
972-215-5040     

 Final Exam Exemptions for Juniors and Seniors

I would like to remind you of the information regarding the final exam exemption rules for juniors and seniors that apply during the spring semester.  As outlined in Board Policy EIAA (Local) and in the High School Handbook (page 13), the following guidelines shall be used in implementing this policy:

Examinations shall be administered as a means of determining whether the objectives of the instructional program have been accomplished.  Test results, used in the diagnosis of skill strengths and deficiencies of the individual and group, shall indicate direction to the teacher in adjusting the curriculum to the needs of the student. 

Juniors and seniors are exempt from a final exam in a class during the spring semester provided:

(1)   The student has a semester grade average at the end of the fifth week of the last six week period of 85 or higher; and

(2)   The student has had no more than two absences for the class during the spring semester.  Students shall not be penalized for classes missed to observe religious holidays.  These absences shall be cleared in advance by the principal.  Students will also not be penalized for doctors’ appointments if the student attends school before and/or after the appointment and brings a doctor’s note.  (Under TEA rule, the student should be counted present for attendance purposes if all applicable rules are met as outlined in the TEA Accounting Handbook.)

Please communicate this policy to your staff, students and parents.

TAKS Option

I would like to remind you of the information regarding the TAKS/final exam option as determined by the district.  The information is based on the District’s recent update from last year’s procedure.

The following information is the procedure for exam option this year:

• Any student who passes TAKS may choose to average the three six weeks’ grades for an exam grade in lieu of taking the exam.  (This applies to like subjects only.  For example, if a 10^th grader passes the ELA TAKS, he or she may use the exam option for their English II class)
• Any student wishing to improve on the exam grade (as described above) may take the exam.  The student will receive the higher grade of the two.
• All students who exercise the exam option must still report to class, on time, on exam day.
• Failure to report for an exam will result in forfeiture of the exam option as follows:
  • Unexcused absence      grade of “0” on exam
  • Excused absence          must take a make-up exam

Causing a classroom disruption will also result in forfeiture of the exam option.

Any student earning a commended rating on TAKS will receive 5 points added to their final 6 week’s grade in that particular subject. Points are added before the exam grade is determined.

TAKS Waiver Calendar and Late Arrival

As you are aware, we have been granted a waiver which allows students who have successfully completed the TAKS Exit level exam requirements and are on track for graduation to arrive late to school on TAKS testing days.  Senior students will arrive at 12:30 PM on TAKS testing days as follows:

*  This waiver late arrival waiver applies only to students who have passed that portion of the Exit level TAKS test being administered and is on track for graduation.

** Please note – this chart is NOT a complete listing of all TAKS testing.  A complete list may be found on the Irving ISD website.