Credit for Competency and Proficiency Courses may be challenged by successfully demonstrating competency on end-of-course challenge examinations or performance tests in the following courses: Algebra 1A/1B, Geometry, English 9 and 10, World History, Biology, World Languages, and Washington State History. To access the challenge exams, contact the high school principal or designee at your child’s school. Students who earn credit in some designated higher-level courses that may have failed to complete a lower level sequential course may be awarded the missing credit by passing the higher-level course, consistent with policy 2409 and 2409P. 

CREDIT VIA CHALLENGE EXAMS

Students who wish to advance their studies (not recover credits) by challenging certain high school courses may do so by following the guidelines below:

• Exams for Biology, Algebra 1A/1B, Geometry, World History and Washington State History* will be given once a year in June at a central district site.  

• A student may take a World Language Proficiency Exam for high school credit.  Students should contact their counselor in the fall to register for this test.

•  A series of performance tasks will be available for students to challenge English 9 and 10.  These will require more than a day to complete, and will have separate guidelines for completion. 

• Registration for the exams and/or performance tasks is announced in spring on the district website for the June exams. Current 8th-11th graders may participate in this process. (Eighth graders may select English 9, Algebra 1A/1B, Geometry, Biology and Washington State History*.)

• Grades will be awarded to students who pass the exams or performance tasks with marks of B- or above. The grades will be placed on the student transcript at the student's request.  Grades of B- through A must be earned in order to receive credit for a challenged course. 

* The Washington State History exam is written at the 7th grade level.  A waiver will be awarded for successful completion of this exam.  Grades will not be awarded, nor will high school credit be given.  There is no expectation for the student to enroll in the next course in the curriculum series.

The student and/or family must initiate the process in order to have the credits and grades posted to the student’s high school transcript.  It is advisable to begin this process during the junior year as there are some nuances in the credit/grade transfer process that may negatively impact the student’s grade point average and subsequent class rank if posted too early.  Please consult with your high school counselor regarding the appropriate paperwork, process and timeline.  

Information can be found at this link:

http://go.boarddocs.com/wa/esd114/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=ATYVTY81673C