Proficiency Credits
Subject to the limitations in this policy and State law, the Superintendent or designee is authorized to establish and approve a program for granting credit for proficiency with the goal of allowing a student who would not benefit from a course because the student is proficient in the subject area to receive credit without having to take the course. A student who demonstrates competency under this program will receive course credit for the applicable course and be excused from any requirement to take the course as a graduation prerequisite. No letter grade will be given for purposes of the student’s cumulative grade point average. The Superintendent or designee shall notify students of the availability of and requirements for receiving proficiency credit.
Proficiency credit will be offered in the following subject areas:
Foreign language - A student is eligible to receive one year of foreign language credit if the student has graduated from an accredited elementary school and can demonstrate proficiency, according to this District’s academic criteria, in a language other than English. A student who demonstrates proficiency in American Sign Language is deemed proficient in a foreign language and will receive one year of foreign language credit. A student who studied a foreign language in an approved ethnic school program is eligible to receive appropriate credit according to the level of proficiency reached; the student may be required to take a proficiency examination.
Other proficiency testing - The program for granting credit for proficiency may allow, as the Superintendent deems appropriate, course credit to be awarded on the basis of a local examination to a student who has achieved the necessary proficiency through independent study or work taken in or through another institution. Proficiency testing may also be used to determine eligible credit for other subjects whenever students enter from non-graded schools, non-recognized or non-accredited schools, or were in a home-schooling program.
LEGAL REF.: 105 ILCS 5/10-22.43, 5/10-22.43a, 5/27-22, and 5/27-24.3.
23 Ill.Admin.Code §1.460.
CROSS REF.: 6:300 (Graduation Requirements), 6:310 (High School Credit for Non-District Experiences; Course Substitutions; Re-Entering Students), 6:315 (High School Credit for Students in Grade 7 or 8)
Updated: April 2021