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CREDIT BY EXAMINATION FOR ADVANCEMENT WITHOUT PRIOR INSTRUCTION
“Credit by
Examination” (CBE) is
mandated by Section 28.023 of
the Texas Education Code and outlined in Board Policy. The purpose of the
Credit by Examination without prior instruction is to allow students to
advance in grade level or accelerate to courses that challenge them
without having to take prerequisites that cover information they already
know. The District shall provide at least three days between January 1
and June 30 and three days between July 1 and December 31 annually when
examinations for acceleration shall be administered in grades 1-12. The
days need not be consecutive but shall be designed to meet the needs of
all students. Two days shall be established toward the end of the first
semester for grades 6-12 examinations. There is no charge for the
examinations given on the scheduled dates, but students may be assessed a
fine if they do not take an examination for which they have registered.
A student must
receive a score of 85% or better on criterion referenced tests of the
essential knowledge and skills for the grade level or courses to be
skipped. Students skipping an entire grade level in Grades 1-8 must make
85% on tests of reading, mathematics, science and social students. There
is no limit to how many grade levels or courses a student may skip during
their school years. However, a student in kindergarten through grade 8 may
advance only one grade level each testing period. A student in grades 6-12
may advance only one course in a subject area in each testing period. The
District is not obligated to provide study guides or textbooks to help
students prepare for the examinations.
A student with
disabilities may receive test modifications that are required by the
student’s Section 504 Accommodation Plan or the IDEA (Special Education)
Individual Education Plan.
Criteria for Advancement:
Kindergarten:
A kindergarten student must be accelerated to first grade if he or she meets
all of the following requirements:
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Achieves a rank of Stanine 8 or above on the
Observation Survey of Early Literacy Achievement.
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Achieves a rank of Stanine 8 or above on the
mathematics test of the Riverside Mini-Battery of Achievement.
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A school district representative recommends
acceleration of the student.
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A parent or guardian approves acceleration of
the student.
Grade 1-5:
Examinations for Grades 1-5 are criterion-referenced tests from Texas Tech
University, the University of Texas or other testing instruments approved by
the Board of Trustees. A student in Grades 1-5 must be accelerated one
grade level if he or she meets the following requirements:
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The student scores 85% or above on each of
the criterion-referenced tests in language arts, mathematics, science, and
social studies for the grade level he or she wishes to skip.
-
A school district representative recommends
acceleration of the student.
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A parent or guardian approves acceleration
of the student.
Grade 6-12:
Examinations for Grade 6-12 are criterion referenced tests from Texas Tech
University, the University of Texas or other testing instruments approved by
the Board of Trustees.
-
A student in Grades 6-12 will be given credit
for an academic subject if the student scores 85% or above on the
criterion-referenced examination for the applicable course and completes
any applicable course projects.
-
If the student scores 85% or above, regular
credit is given and the examination score is entered on the student’s
transcript. The score entered on the transcript will be used when
computing a student’s GPA and class rank.
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A student in Grades 6-8 will be advanced one
grade level if the student scores 85% or above on each of the
criterion-referenced tests in language arts, mathematics, science, and
social studies for the grade level he or she wishes to skip.
CREDIT BY EXAMINATION
WITH PRIOR INSTRUCTION
Students who have
received instruction but did not pass any subject in elementary grades or
receive credit in any academic course at the secondary level, may use
credit by examination to demonstrate mastery and regain either whole or
half credit. Credit by examination shall not be used to circumvent the
no-pass-no-play rules during the school year. However, credit by
examination may be used to earn credits to meet the academic eligibility
for UIL activities for the first six weeks. Students may not use credit
by examination to change their grade in any subject for which they have
previously received a passing grade of 70 or above at the elementary level
or a course for which they have previously received credit at the
secondary level. On approval of the attendance committee, a student who
has a passing grade but who has failed a course because of excessive
absences may be permitted to earn or regain course credit through credit
by examination.
In addition to
the testing dates established for Credit by Examination by the District,
testing may be arranged through the student's counselor throughout the
year. No fee shall be charged for tests administered on the testing dates
established by the District. A fee not to exceed the cost of procuring,
administering, and scoring the test shall be charged for tests
administered at other times. To receive credit, students shall score a
grade of 70 percent or above on the examination.
A student with
disabilities may receive test modifications that are required by the
student’s Section 504 Accommodation Plan or the IDEA (Special Education)
Individual Education Plan.
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