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623 TEST OUT OF CLASS POLICY

New Policy: January 10, 2007 A. General Statement of Policy Minnesota State Board of Education Rule #3500.290 provides that school districts must establish demonstration, through “test out” procedures, of the essential learner outcomes (ELO) of any course. In compliance with this rule, the South Koochiching-Rainy River School District provides a process by which students may qualify for either exemption from required course or full credit for courses based on skills and knowledge they have previously achieved in school or elsewhere. The process of “testing out” of a course is not intended to suggest that a student would not benefit from completion of the regular course, but rather is a recognition that some students are able and ready to move directly to more advanced courses or to expand their learning options more broadly when they can test out of subjects in which they have extensive background and/or experience. The student testing out should consider applying to test out of a course very carefully, as the process requires significant work and skill. Only when the student and his/her parents/guardians and school counselor truly feel that the student is very well prepared will the process be initiated. B. 3500.2900 Basis For Secondary School Credit Districts shall establish and maintain a system through which students can receive credits for any course offered by the district in any subject area if the student is able to demonstrate that the student meets the learner outcomes of the course. A district may require an examination before awarding credit on a performance basis. Credit may be given on a performance basis when a school district determines a student has completed work on an independent basis that warrants the award of credit. This credit shall be noted on the student’s transcript and count towards graduation requirements. C. Purpose The benefits of testing out for students are perceived to be: 1. Allows a well-prepared student to move ahead to more advanced courses for which they have skill and competence, but lack the “prerequisite credits.” 2. Allows students to pursue broader course work then they would otherwise be able to pursue if they were required to participate in courses they have already mastered. 3. Recognizes that learning takes place at different rates for a given grade level or age, and in places outside the school even before the school program is offered. D. Types of Testing Out Results 1. Exemption: Exemption for required classes is for students who can demonstrate that they already could perform the outcomes of the course at good “B” level work. This would allow the student to move, for example, to English 10 without enrolling in English 9 because the student could handle English 10 course work without taking the English 9 prerequisite. Exemptions are used to get the students to the correct level of difficulty. Under this exemption, a student would not receive a credit or grade, but would simply be exempted from the required course. This would not change the student’s credit requirements for graduation, but would simply allow the student to pursue other courses without taking the actual required course. 2 Credit: Credit for any course is awarded when the student performs the outcomes of the course at a high “A-” level before the course commences. Under this awarding of credit, a student would earn actual graduation credit for the test out. Depending on the course, the student may earn a half credit or a full credit. The student would be granted full credit with the transcript notation of “P” which would not affect the student’s GPA or class rank. E. Application Procedures 1. The students shall discuss the request for test out assessment with the counselor no later than one full quarter prior to the start of the regular class. Under special circumstances, the application deadline may be waived by the test out committee. At the time of the application, it is assumed that the student is ready to begin the assessment process. Students may only attempt to test out of the courses that are the students’ correct level of difficulty. 2. Student application must be completed on the approved “Testing Out” application form (see appendix). Students may not apply to test out of classes for which they have previously received grades, received an incomplete, or dropped. a. Students may apply for and be approved for the test out process only once for a given course. b. Students shall test out of a sequential courses in the same sequence. c. Students shall currently be enrolled as a full time student and must agree to maintain full time status during the time the tested-out course is scheduled. 3. The student must submit with the application form supporting evidence of competence in the course materials. Such evidence may include portfolios or other samples of previous accomplishments and work, letters of support from teachers or other individuals. 4. The school shall name a test out committee of faculty and administrators who shall review the materials of each applicant. This committee shall include at least one teacher, one counselor, and the principal/dean. The committee shall determine based on the student application materials and the course outcomes, whither or not the student is approved for the test out opportunity. 5. The applicant and his/her parents/guardians shall be notified of the committee decision within ten working days of the application deadline. Decisions of the committee may be appealed within ten days of notification. The committee’s decision regarding the student application for test out shall become a part of the student’s file. 6. When approved for test out opportunity, the teacher(s) of the course for which the testing is to take place will interview the applicant. Details of the requirements, which may vary according to the class the student is attempting to test out of, including dates shall be determined and recorded in the student’s file. a. Test out requirements may include both examinations and performances. b. Failure to meet deadlines established will be sufficient cause for termination of the test out opportunity. c. Requirement for test out shall be at the level of the course exit outcomes and shall not require completion of all developmental activities and information. The level of achievement required shall parallel the skills students would normally demonstrate at the end of the course to receive a “B” in cases or exemption of “A-” in cases of credit. d. Student shall have access to course materials for the test out requirement. e. Testing in two parts: that is, it may be pre-established that a student must achieve at a specified level on one part of the requirements before moving to the next. f. During the next portion of the assessment process, the student may be asked to demonstrate skills, answer questions in an interview, exhibit a portfolio of tasks, or be involved in some other performance based assessment. g. Requirements, shall not be unduly time consuming for either instructors or students. It is assumed that the student can achieve the requirements at the time of application and approval. 7. The notification of the results must be completed at least three weeks before the regular course commences. Upon completion of all requirements and required materials, the teacher will file results with the school test out committee, which shall notify the student and his/her parents/guardians of the student’s test out results within five working days. A principal/dean or counselor on the school test out committee may act with the power of the committee to receive results and notify students and parents/guardians. This step does not require an actual committee meeting. 8. The result of the testing may be appealed to the test out committed within ten working days of notification. 9. The results of a completed test out attempt shall be one of the following; a. Pass - with full credit b. Pass - Student Exempted from the course c. Fail 10. Students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP), Federal 504 modification, or Limited English Proficiency (LEP) status shall have access to these tests with appropriate accommodations.

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