RSS to allow some exam exceptions – Salisbury Post

SALISBURY — High-performing students in each high school grade will now be eligible for test waivers based on certain criteria, under a new policy adopted by the Rowan-Salisbury School System Board of Education on Monday.

Dr. Sajatha Latten, chief scientific officer of RSS, presented the updated amendment to the proposed policy to the board of directors on Monday at the central office.

“It was before you a couple of months ago, but we wanted to bring it back because we had some feedback from the directors who were talking about the brief that should have gone with it, and they also wanted to make sure that it wasn’t an isolated opportunity. for high school students, but also for students in grades 9-12,” Latten said.

The policy change allows for waivers in certain classes based on letter grade and number of absences in the semester.

According to the policy, the board intends to “reward high academic achievement by exempting qualified students from taking final examinations” according to the following criteria:

1. A student in the first or second semester of grades nine through twelfth may be exempt from taking the final examination in each grade if the following conditions are met: the student (a) obtains at least a B average (80) in a particular course, and (b) fails six or fewer classes per semester.
2. No student may be exempt from examination if the state assessment is used as the final examination. The final/semester exam will be taken in all non-EOC courses in grades 9-12 in all high schools, excluding AP courses with AP final exams or courses with CTE post-graduation or college exams.
3. Release is not mandatory. If an eligible student wishes to take an exam from which he/she is exempt, he/she may do so. The final examination grade of a student eligible for an exam waiver will be used only if it improves the student’s grade in the course.
4. For a student who chooses not to take the final exam, the final grade will be calculated based on the average of first and second quarter test scores and coursework completed during that semester.
5. Teachers must notify students eligible for an exam waiver at least two days before the exam. A qualifying student must notify the teacher of his/her intention to take the exam at least one day prior to the exam.
6. Students eligible for exam waivers are expected to continue to attend classes and complete all assignments.
7. Any high school student enrolled in an Advanced Placement (AP) course and taking the AP exam is exempt from the regular class final exam. Any high school student taking the first semester of an AP class and committing to take the AP exam in the spring should be exempt. Students who choose not to take the AP exam will not have the opportunity to earn college credit.

Vice Chair Cathy McDuffie Sanborn made a motion to approve the policy amendment. Board member Sabrina Harris seconded. It passed unanimously.