CREDIT BY EXAM INFORMATION

CREDIT BY EXAM--Student has taken the course/subject (All Grade Levels)

The principal or designee or the attendance committee, as applicable, shall have authority to offer a student the opportunity to demonstrate mastery in a subject or to earn course credit by examination when the student has had prior instruction in a subject and when:

1. The student is enrolling in the District from a non-accredited school [see FD];
2. The student has failed a subject or course; or
3. The student has earned a passing grade in a subject or course but has failed to earn credit because of excessive absences [see FEC].

Examinations shall assess the student’s mastery of the essential knowledge and skills and shall be administered according to established District procedures. To receive credit, a student shall score a grade of 70 or above on the examination.

Prior to offering a student an opportunity to demonstrate mastery or earn credit by this method, an appropriate District employee shall review the student’s educational records to determine whether the student has had prior instruction in the subject or course.

Rains ISD Policy EHDB (Local)-X

CREDIT BY EXAM--Student has NOT taken the course/subject

If a student in grades 1-12 wishes to accelerate to the next grade level or earn course credit without having received prior instruction in the grade level or course, the District shall offer opportunities in accordance with state law and State Board rules for the student to take a Board-approved examination for this purpose.

A complete battery of exams for Math, Language Arts and Reading, Science, and Social Studies are required for K-8. Students may earn credit for an academic subject in grades 9-12 by taking the subject-specific exam offered for that course. 

Students may earn credit for the course/subject in which the student has not had prior instruction if the student scores 80 or above on a criterion-referenced examination for acceleration in the applicable course. If such credit is given, the score will be entered on the student’s transcript, but grade points will not be awarded for credit earned through these exams.

Rains ISD Policy EHDC(Local)-A

Acceleration Specifics:

1. Students must complete an application by the deadline date provided.
2. A student is given credit in a subject on the basis of an exam on which the student scores 80% or higher.
3. Students will not receive any high school grade points for these exams and the final grade recorded will be the actual score received on the exam if the score is 80% or better.
4. A student may not attempt to earn credit by examination for a specific high school course more than two times.
5. If a student fails to earn credit by examination for a specific high school course before the beginning of the school year in which the student would ordinarily be required to enroll in that course according to the district sequence, the student must satisfactorily complete the course to receive credit.
6. It is highly recommended that those applying to be strong academically and meet all prerequisites for the course for which the student will be tested.

Approved exams:

1. College Board advanced placement examinations
2. College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) examinations
3. Exams developed by Texas Tech University
4. Exams developed by University of Texas at Austin

Eligibility:

1. The student must be enrolled in Rains ISD.
2. Students must complete an Application for Credit by Exam and turn in by the posted deadline.
3. Students must not have been enrolled, or received prior instruction, in the course for which they are attempting an exam for acceleration. 

Application for Credit by Exam can be found at the link below:

      Credit by Exam