- Livonia Public Schools
- Testing Out
Testing Out of Credits in the Livonia Public Schools
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Students who feel they already possess a mastery of the subject area content expectations associated with an LPS required course before they even take the required course, may request to ‘test out’ from having to take the LPS required course.
Students who earn a passing grade (80% or higher) on the test out assessment will earn the credit (.5 or 1.0) required for graduation. The credit earned from ‘testing out’ will be subtracted from the 18 credits of the Michigan Merit Curriculum. That student, however, must still earn the 23 credits that are required for a Livonia Public Schools diploma.
Credits earned through ‘testing out’ will be recorded on a student’s transcript with the course title, the credit earned, and a grade of an ‘S’, but the letter grade will not be included in the computation of a student’s grade point average.
General Information
- Testing Out opportunities for most content areas will take place in December and May.
- Students must register on the Google form linked with each content area.
- The Google form will be posted approximately thirty days prior to the testing out dates.
- The test out may be a multiple day experience.
- Passing is determined by a score of 80% or higher.
- Unless specifically noted, there is no fee for taking a test out.
- The NCAA does not accept test out credit for future college-bound student athletes.
- LPS does not loan textbooks for students to study for the test out.
- LPS does not provide practice tests or study sessions prior to the test out.
English Language Arts (ELA)
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ELA 9
ELA 9 - 2021-22 Semester 1 Test Out
The test-out is based on the Michigan Standards for English Language Arts. Students will be required to bring their student ID with them to the exam. Students who pass this exam will be awarded .5 ELA credit on their high school transcript. The results of the test-out will not affect a student’s grade point average.
Spring Administration
Test Date: Week of May 24
Time: TBD
Location: Livonia Public Schools Board Office
15125 Farmington Rd., Livonia
Registration should be made by May 14 in order to participate in the test-out. Click here to register.Test Components
Day 1 - multiple choice
Literary and informational reading standards
Language standardsDay 2 - essay
Literary and informational reading standards
Writing standards
Language standards
Students will have 90 minutes on each testing day to complete test components.Test Results
Students must score 80% or better overall in order to receive credit.
A letter will be sent to the parent/guardian indicating whether or not the student passed the test-out. Counselors will be informed via email by Christine Fankell. -
ELA 10
ELA 10 - 2021-22 Semester 1 Test Out
The test-out is based on the Michigan Standards for English Language Arts. Students will be required to bring their student ID with them to the exam. Students who pass this exam will be awarded .5 ELA credit on their high school transcript. The results of the test-out will not affect a student’s grade point average.
Spring Administration
Test Date: Week of May 24
Time: TBD
Location: Livonia Public Schools Board Office
15125 Farmington Rd., Livonia
Registration should be made by May 14 in order to participate in the test-out.Click here to register.
Test ComponentsDay 1 - multiple choice
Literary and informational reading standards
Language standardsDay 2 - essay
Literary and informational reading standards
Writing standards
Language standards
Students will have 90 minutes on each testing day to complete test components.Test Results
Students must score 80% or better overall in order to receive credit.
A letter will be sent to the parent/guardian indicating whether or not the student passed the test-out. Counselors will be informed via email by Christine Fankell. -
ELA 11
ELA 11 2021-22 Semester 1 Test Out
The test-out is based on the Michigan Standards for English Language Arts.
Students will be required to bring their student ID with them to the exam. Students who pass this exam will be awarded .5 ELA credit on their high school transcript. The results of the test-out will not affect a student’s grade point average.
Spring Administration
Test Date: Week of May 24
Time: TBD
Location: Livonia Public Schools Board Office
15125 Farmington Rd., Livonia
Registration should be made by May 14 in order to participate in the test-out.Test Components
Day 1 - multiple choice
Literary and informational reading standards
Language standardsDay 2 - essay
Literary and informational reading standards
Writing standards
Language standards
Students will have 90 minutes on each testing day to complete test components..Test Results
Students must score 80% or better overall in order to receive credit.
A letter will be sent to the parent/guardian indicating whether or not the student passed the test-out. Counselors will be informed via email by Christine Fankell. -
ELA 12
ELA 12 - 2021-22 Semester 1 Test Out
The test-out is based on the Michigan Standards for English Language Arts.
Students will be required to bring their student ID with them to the exam. Students who pass this exam will be awarded .5 ELA credit on their high school transcript. The results of the test-out will not affect a student’s grade point average.
Spring Administration
Test Date: Week of May 24
Time: TBD
Location: Livonia Public Schools Board Office
15125 Farmington Rd., Livonia
Registration should be made by May 14 in order to participate in the test-out.Test Components
Day 1 - multiple choice
Literary and informational reading standards
Language standardsDay 2 - essay
Literary and informational reading standards
Writing standards
Language standards
Students will have 90 minutes on each testing day to complete test components.Test Results
Students must score 80% or better overall in order to receive credit.
A letter will be sent to the parent/guardian indicating whether or not the student passed the test-out. Counselors will be informed via email by Christine Fankell.
Math
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Geometry
The Geometry test out exam includes multiple choice and free response questions covered in Geometry. This exam includes questions assessing a student’s knowledge of geometric figures, including lines, angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, polygons and circles, and their properties. Relationships between two-and three-dimensional representations, congruence, similarity, transformations, proof and logic are also included on the exam.
The exam aligns with Math Common Core standards.
Registration should be made by May 14 in order to participate in the test-out.
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Algebra 1
The Algebra test out exam includes multiple choice and free response questions covered in Algebra 1. This exam includes questions assessing a student’s knowledge of the real number system and families of functions including linear, exponential, and quadratic. Students will also be tested on their knowledge of powers, including roots, cubics and quadratics, and polynomial patterns of change.
The exam content aligns with the Math Common Core standards.
Registration should be made by May 14 in order to participate in the test-out.
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Algebra 2
The Algebra 2 test out exam includes multiple choice and free response questions covered in Algebra 2. The exam includes questions assessing relations and functions (quadratics, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, rational, and radical) including operations, graphing, solving, and applications. Algebra 2 expands the study of mathematics to include complex numbers and also includes systems of equations and inequalities, sequences and series, and data collection and analysis.
The exam aligns with Math Common Core standards.
Registration should be made by May 14 in order to participate in the test-out.
World Language Test-Outs
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Japanese II Test Out
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Japanese I Test Out
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Spanish I Test-Out
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Spanish II Test-Out
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French I Test-Out
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French II Test-Out
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German I Test-Out
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German II Test-Out
Social Studies
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Government
Government
The test-out for Government is based on the Michigan Standards for Social Studies and Literacy in History/Social Studies. Students will be required to bring their student ID with them to the exam. Students who pass this exam will be awarded .5 social studies credit on their high school transcript. The results of the test-out will not affect a student’s grade point average.
Spring Administration
Test Date: Week of May 24
Time: TBD
Location: Livonia Public Schools Board Office
15125 Farmington Rd., Livonia
Registration should be made by May 14 in order to participate in the test-out.Test Components
Day 1 - selected response
Social studies standards
Day 2 - essayReading standards
Writing standards
Social studies standards
Students will have 90 minutes on each testing day to complete test components.
Test Results
Students must score 80% or better overall in order to receive credit.
A letter will be sent to the parent/guardian indicating whether or not the student passed the test-out. Counselors will be informed via email by Christine Fankell. -
World History
World History 2021-22 Semester 1 Test Out
The test-out for World History is based on the Michigan Standards for Social Studies and Literacy in History/Social Studies. Students will be required to bring their student ID with them to the exam. Students who pass this exam will be awarded .5 social studies credit on their high school transcript. The results of the test-out will not affect a student’s grade point average.
Spring Administration
Test Date: Week of May 24
Time: TBD
Location: Livonia Public Schools Board Office
15125 Farmington Rd., LivoniaRegistration should be made by May 14 in order to participate in the test-out.
Test Components
Day 1 - selected response
Social studies standards
Day 2 - essayReading standards
Writing standards
Social studies standards
Students will have 90 minutes on each testing day to complete test components.Test Results
Students must score 80% or better overall in order to receive credit.
A letter will be sent to the parent/guardian indicating whether or not the student passed the test-out. Counselors will be informed via email by Christine Fankell. -
U.S. History
US History - 2021-22 Semester 1 Test Out
The test-out for US History is based on the Michigan Standards for Social Studies and Literacy in History/Social Studies. Students will be required to bring their student ID with them to the exam. Students who pass this exam will be awarded 1 social studies credit on their high school transcript. The results of the test-out will not affect a student’s grade point average.
Spring Administration
Test Date: Week of May 24
Time: TBD
Location: Livonia Public Schools Board Office
15125 Farmington Rd., LivoniaRegistration should be made by May 14 in order to participate in the test-out.
Test Components
Day 1 - selected response
Social studies standards
Day 2 - essayReading standards
Writing standards
Social studies standards
Students will have 90 minutes on each testing day to complete test components.Test Results
Students must score 80% or better overall in order to receive credit.
A letter will be sent to the parent/guardian indicating whether or not the student passed the test-out. Counselors will be informed via email by Christine Fankell. -
Economics
Economics 2021-22 Semester 1 Test Out
The test-out for Economics is based on the Michigan Standards for Social Studies and Literacy in History/Social Studies. Students will be required to bring their student ID with them to the exam. Students who pass this exam will be awarded .5 social studies credit on their high school transcript. The results of the test-out will not affect a student’s grade point average.
Spring Administration
Test Date: Week of May 24
Time: TBD
Location: Livonia Public Schools Board Office
15125 Farmington Rd., Livonia
Registration should be made by May 14 in order to participate in the test-out.Test Components
Day 1 - selected response
Social studies standards
Day 2 - essayReading standards
Writing standards
Social studies standards
Students will have 90 minutes on each testing day to complete test components.Test Results
Students must score 80% or better overall in order to receive credit.
A letter will be sent to the parent/guardian indicating whether or not the student passed the test-out. Counselors will be informed via email by Christine Fankell.
Science
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Biology
The Biology assessment will include multiple choice and free response items. A calculator will be provided. The emphasis is on core biology content and the science and engineering practices as described in the NGSS.
Registration should be made by May 14 in order to participate in the test-out.
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Chemistry
The Chemistry assessment will include multiple choice and free response items. A calculator will be provided.
Registration should be made by May 14 in order to participate in the test-out.
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Physics
The Physics assessment will include multiple choice and free response items. A calculator will be provided.
Registration should be made by May 14 in order to participate in the test-out.
Health and Fitness Test-Outs
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Physical and Health Education Test-Out
NOTE: INFORMATION FOR HEALTH TEST OUT AND PERSONAL FITNESS TEST OUT IS LOCATED ON THIS PAGE.
Health Test Out
Students who are currently not enrolled in Health will be eligible to take the test. Students must be in at least the eighth grade. Each student will need to provide the parental permission slip (see below) indicating whether they may take the HIV/STI and sexuality education portion of the test. There are two versions, one that includes the HIV/STI and sexuality education curriculum and one that does not. Each test will contain the same number of questions. Students will also be required to bring their student ID with them to the test. One must earn 80% or higher in order to be awarded credit on their transcript. The results of the test will not affect your grade point average. The deadline to sign up is March 24, 2023.
Winter Administration
Date: April 5, 2023
Time: 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm.
Location: Churchill High School Room 502
Test
The test-out includes multiple choice and matching questions. It will consist of the following:
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Nutrition and Physical Activity
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Alcohol,Tobacco, and other Drugs
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Safety
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Social and Emotional Health
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Personal Health and Wellness
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HIV and other STI prevention (may “opt-out”)
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Sexuality Education (may “opt-out”)
Students must score 80% or better in order to receive credit.
The student will be given their results before leaving the test. An email will also be sent to the parent/guardian indicating whether or not their student passed. Counselors will be informed via email from Julie Adams
Personal Fitness Test Out
Students who are not currently enrolled in Personal Fitness will be eligible to take this test.
Students interested in participating in the test-out will need to provide a parental permission/medical form signed by their parent/guardian. They will also be required to bring a school picture ID to the test out and dress as directions indicate. Students who pass this exam with 80% or higher will be awarded credit on their transcript. It will not affect their grade point average. The deadline to sign up is April 7, 2023.
Winter Test Administration:
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Dates: April 11, 2023 (Day 1) and April 12, 2023 (Day 2)
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Time: 3:30pm – 5:30 p.m.
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Location: Stevenson High School Room E21
Day One: Time – approx. 2 hours.
Written Test (190 questions): Students will need to score 80% or higher on a written test based on various rules, tactics, procedures, and all fitness components of the personal fitness class. Students successfully completing this portion will then advance to day two for the skills portion of the test.
Day Two: Time – approx. 2 hours
Students will need to dress in swim attire and also bring gym clothes and tennis shoes.
Skills Testing.
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Swimming: Students will begin with a 10 minute uninterrupted swim. After successfully completing the swim, students must pass 5 out of the 6 strokes/skills; Freestyle (front crawl), Backstroke (back crawl), Elementary Backstroke, Sidestroke, Breaststroke, and Treading water (3 minutes.)
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Sports: Students will demonstrate mature form and function of various skills/tactics in the sports of volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Students must pass 80% of each sport.
Test Results
An email will be sent to the parent/guardian indicating whether or not their student passed. Counselors will also be informed via email from Julie Adams
Click here to sign up for Health and/or Personal Fitness test out
Click here for required parent consent/ medical form for Personal Fitness
Click here for required Opt in/out form for sex ed portion of Health test
Contact Julie Adams jadams12@livoniapublicschools.org with questions
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FAQ
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Is the previous law on testing-out, outlined above, still in effect?
Yes. However, the two laws do different things. "Testing-out" in the Michigan Merit Curriculum is an option to demonstrate that a student meets or exceeds the content expectations associated with the subject credit area. The existing testing-out law speaks specifically about courses. In the MMC, the instruction needed to test-out does not necessarily have to be delivered in a traditional "course sequence," and testing-out can occur at any time, under reasonable rules and regulations developed by the school district. The final assessment(s) should be aligned with the content expectations or guidelines to assign credit. Districts may have to revisit current policies to make sure the two laws are compatible.
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If a student "tests out" of a class, say Algebra I, but NEVER takes the Algebra I class {they knew the material, but didn't put in time in class), can they receive graduation credit?
Yes. If students test out of the credit for Algebra I, then the earned credit would count as a required credit for graduation under the Michigan Merit Curriculum. Part of the reform initiative is to change the way we think about "seat time" as the criteria for learning - If a student knows the content and can demonstrate this knowledge on course/credit assessment(s), they will earn the credit.
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Can a student test-out of a credit required for graduation under the Michigan Merit Curriculum? To test-out, does a student need to have a C+ or better?
Yes. Public Acts 123 and 124 require a school district or public school academy to grant a student credit if the student earns:
- A qualifying score, as determined by the department, on the assessments developed or selected for the subiect area by the department; OR
- The student earns a qualifying score, as determined by the school district or public school academy, on one or more assessments developed or selected by the school district or public school academy that measure a student's understanding of the subject area content expectations or gu1del1nes that apply to the credit.
In addition, based on a previous law still in effect, if using a final exam to measure proficiency, a student must attain a grade of not less than C+, or, if there is no final exam, by exhibiting that mastery through the basic assessment used in the course which may consist of a portfolio, performance, paper, project, or presentation. This law also requires that credits earned through testing not be included in a computation of grade point average for any purpose.
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Can a student test-out of any of the new credit areas required for graduation (including Civics)?
Yes. The law (380.1278a) allows students to test-out of any of the credit areas required for graduation and does not limit this to specific credit areas. Prior to this law, Department guidelines and policies stated that students may not test-out of Civics due to a legal requirement, which mandated students take a one-semester Civics "course." The new law (380.1278a and 380.1278b) no longer requires students to take classes or courses but refers instead to students earning "credit" when considered proficient in the course/credit content expectations. Therefore, a student could test-out of Civics.
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For testing-out, does there have to be a single test such as a final or end of course exam that covers all the content expectations for that credit area?
No. There does not have to be a single, final, end-of -course exam but yes, all the content expectations need to be reasonably covered in whatever assessment or assessments are used for testing-out. Whether a student takes a class or requests to test-out, the law states that the award of credit to the student must be based upon the student's proficiency of the content expectations in that credit area.
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If there doesn't need to be a single test or final exam for testing-out, what are the other options?
In speaking about testing-out, the law allows to be used:
- assessments developed or selected for the subject area by the department OR
- one or more assessments developed or selected by the school district or public school academy that measure a pupil's understanding of the subJect area content expectations or guidelines that apply to the credit.
It is clear that both the state and the local district do not necessarily need to develop one, large comprehensive exam, but may use multiple assessments, as long as the content expectations are assessed in the process.
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What are some examples of multiple assessments?
Following are some examples, not intended to be limiting:
- A series of smaller tests, perhaps used in class by the teacher over the course of the class, which, taken together cover all the content expectations.
- An assessment consisting of the end-of-marking-period exams used by the teacher, or the first and second semester exams, again as long as, combined, they cover the content expectations.
- A written assessment plus a demonstration, performance, or participation element.
No written assessment but a "portfolio, performance, paper, project, or presentation." (380.1279b)
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Can students be required to demonstrate knowledge in addition to taking an assessment?
Yes. If students taking the class are required to demonstrate knowledge beyond taking a test, a student wishing to test-out may be required to do the same. For example, in some classes, students may be required to demonstrate proficiency by:
- Giving a speech.
- Demonstrating minimum proficiency in dialoging in a language other than English.
- Writing a college-level research paper.
- Designing and carrying out a scientific experiment.
- Participating in a cooperative learning experience.
- Constructing a project.
- Participating in a community service project.
- Other.
- Giving a speech.
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Does a testing-out assessment require a written exam?
Yes. The testing-out provisions of the new graduation requirements law did not eliminate or supersede all the testing-out provisions of the old law (380.1279b). The old law was based on the assumption that there were final exams but stated that credit could still be earned" If there is no final exam, by exhibitng master through the basic assessment used in the course, which may consist of a portfolio, performance, paper, project, or presentation." These provisions of the old law still apply.
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Can a middle school student test-out of a credit required under the Michigan Merit Curriculum for high school graduation?
Yes. The law states if a student successfully completes one or more high school credits before entering high school, the student must be given graduation credit for that credit if: 1) the district determines a student has met Michigan Department of Education high school course/credit content expectations; and, 2) the district uses an assessment to certify that the student is proficient in the course/credit content expectations, and the expected level of proficiency is the same as for high school. While a student must receive graduation credit for credit earned prior to high school, a district continues to have the ability to establish graduation requirements beyond the Michigan Merit Curriculum.
In other words, if middle school students meet the same expectations and proficiency level as high school students, they must receive credit. This is true even if textbooks and other resources are different. The key is mastering the course content expectations, being measured by the same assessment(s) as in high school, and performing at the same level of proficiency (passing standards) as in high school. -
The old law says that "Credit earned under this section may or may not be counted toward graduation, as the board of the school district may determine ... " Does this provision still apply?
No, in this case the new law supersedes the old law. The new law (380.1278a) states that if a student earns a qualifying score on the assessments developed for testing-out, the district SHALL grant credit.
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May a school or district establish requirements on how often testing-out is allowed, that is, how often the end-of-course exams and/or other assessments are given?
Yes. Testing-out is not meant to be "testing on demand," but to provide students reasonable opportunities to demonstrate they were proficient on the content expectations and did not need to take the course or the class. A school or district may establish reasonable times when end-of course exams and/or other related assessments would be given. These should be at times convenient to both the student and the school, for example: before the school year starts, at semester time, in the winter or spring before students begin scheduling for the next year, etc.
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If a student is taking a class and then decides to test-out, is the school obligated to allow them to do so?
Yes, but under certain locally determined conditions. The school is obligated to allow the student an opportunity to test-out, but It may be according to the reasonable rules or timeframes described in the answer to the previous question. A school has the right, for instance, to make clear to students that if they decide to earn credit by taking a class but then, after a period of time, want to get out, they are obligated to attend and participate in that class until such point (e.g. semester time) when test-out assessments will be administered. A school has a reasonable right to exercise supervision over students such that it decides it cannot have testing-out occurring at all times during the year, with students entering and leaving classes.
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Can a district have a policy, which limits the number of classes a student could testÂout of, for example: two high school classes over four years?
No. The new law does not provide for any lim1tat1on and allows a student to attempt to testout of all the credit areas required for graduation in the Merit Curriculum. The credits required for graduation, however, number 18 and most high school master schedules allow for additional credits to be earned in elective areas or in areas required by local graduation requirements.
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Can a school district deny credit to a student who is enrolled in a course and has not met the district attendance policy?
Yes. However, a student who fails to earn credit for not meeting a district's attendance policy may still request to test-out of a subiect regardless of the amount of class time or attendance. The opportunity to do so, however, may be limited by the testing-out t1melines of the local district.
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If a student passes the Calculus Advanced Placement (AP) test prior to entering high school, but has not taken Algebra II, can the district approve the AP test as an assessment to validate student proficiency in Algebra II?
Yes. A district or public school academy can determine the AP Calculus test measures a student's understanding of any or all of content expectations.
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Will the number of students graduating high school early increase as a result of allowing students to test out?
The state high school graduation requirements are the minimum credits students should know and be able to do for success in college and the workplace. There are many reasons why a student who has met the state high school graduation requirements may be required or want to continue to attend high school. For example, many districts may have additional graduation requirements students will need to complete or may offer early college credit earning opportunities in their school or in coordination with a college or university. In addition, many students may wish to continue to attend high school and graduate with their classmates or participate in extra-curricular activities.
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Can a district determine who is eligible to test out?
While districts can determine when test-out assessments will be administered, all interested students must have the opportunity to test-out.
Testing Out Information from Michigan Department of Education
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380.1279(b) The board of a school district shall grant high school credit in any course to a pupil enrolled in high school, but who is not enrolled in the course, who has exhibited a reasonable level of mastery of the subject matter of the course by attaining a grade of not less than C+ in a final exam in the course, or, if there is no final exam, by exhibiting that mastery through the basic assessment used in the course which may consist of a portfolio, performance, paper, project, or presentation. For the purpose of earning credit under this section, any high school pupil may take the final examination in any course. Credit earned under this section shall be based on a "pass" grade and shall not be included in a computation of grade point average for any purpose. Credit earned under this section may or may not be counted toward graduation, as the board of the school district may determine, but the board's determination shall apply equally to all such credit for all pupils and credit earned under this section shall be counted toward fulfillment of a requirement for a subject area course and shall be counted toward fulfillment of a requirement as to course sequence. Once credit is earned under this section, a pupil may not receive credit thereafter for a course lower in course sequence concerning the same subject area.
Michigan Merit Curriculum Guidelines
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380.1278(a)(4)(c) A school district or public school academy shall also grant a student a credit if the student earns a qualifying score, as determined by the department, on the assessments developed or selected for the subject area by the department or the student earns a qualifying score, as determined by the school district or public school academy, on 1 or more assessments developed or selected by the school district or public school academy that measure a student's understanding of the subject area content expectations or guidelines that apply to the credit.