Policy 6155 - Class Examinations/Challenging Courses by Examinations

Class Examinations/Challenging Courses by Examinations

The Board of Education recognizes the occasional need to allow students in grades 9-12 to take examinations which assist in the proper placement of students in the course of study. Students will receive credit by demonstrating a competency through examination and/or performance.

The examination given to students under this policy shall be a comprehensive examination which shall cover all of the objectives of the course being challenged. Successful completion of the examination shall be at a level which indicates mastery of the content and/or reasonable chance for success in the next higher course.

Rule 6155

Last Revised 06/19/2015 (technical revision)

Challenging of Courses

by Examination Students in grades 9-12 will be permitted to challenge a course by examination. Department course objectives and procedures for challenging courses will be a part of student orientation and outlined in secondary school handbooks.

Procedures

Prior to challenging a course, students must file a request with the principal or designee for approval. Currently enrolled students may challenge courses prior to enrollment or within the first two (2) weeks of the semester. Entering ninth grade students and new enrollees must file a request and take the examination within two (2) weeks of the time of initial entry to high school classes.

The student will inform the course instructor of his/her intent to challenge the course and submit the request to the principal or designee for approval. The request shall include but not be limited to the following:

1. Grades in courses of the subject area of the challenge
2. Recommendations from the teacher
3. Substitute courses to be taken by the student
4. Student's rationale or reasons for wishing to challenge a specific course.

Guidelines The challenge examination may be offered to requesting students when the course to be challenged is part of a sequence of courses normally taken in specific order or when the course to be challenged is normally required for entry into another course.

1. During their enrollment in high school, students may challenge no more than 4 courses (40 units) which meet graduation requirements. While successful challenge will exempt a student from those specific course required for graduation, the student is still responsible for the total units required for graduation.
2. A student may challenge and attempt the competencies of a particular course only once. Failure to meet competency of a required course will result in a regular classroom enrollment. A student may not generally challenge a course in which he/she has previously received a failing grade, a course previously taken where credit was received, remedial courses or physical education in grades 9 and 10.
3. A student may challenge only one course per semester. This may be a course in which the student is enrolled or any other approved course offering. A student may not attempt credit for a course below his/her ability or grade placement.
4. Beginning with students who will graduate in the 1999-2000 school year: Students challenging courses in a subject area required for graduation by the State of California will not be exempt from the total number of semester units required by the state for graduation.

Test Content and Administration

It shall be the responsibility of department chairpersons to collaborate with teachers in the development of appropriate district-wide testing procedures and materials for the classes that may be challenged within their department. Departmentally developed performance objectives shall determine the content and the type of evaluation to be used. The examination may be written, oral, by demonstration, or by any combination thereof. The type of test administered should be dependent upon the course outline. It is further the responsibility of the department chairperson or designee to supervise the administration, correction and verification of tests pertaining to the department.

The student must pass the test with at least 80% to receive credit and the grade will be in accordance with his/her achievement level. The student has the option of either accepting or not accepting the results of his/her challenge and its inclusion on his/her permanent record. Once it has been accepted that a student has successfully challenged a course, the test and grade verification shall be inserted into the student's permanent record. The results will be transmitted to the counseling department. Students shall report to the counselor and be encouraged to pursue more advanced courses in related subject areas.