Walker County Schools students will have the option to test out of courses starting in fall 2013 if they score at the "exceeds" level on the state End of Course Test.
"The State Board of Education altered their graduation requirements," explained Secondary Curriculum and CTAE Coordinator John Parker. "Students can now test out of EOCT courses. If a freshman is good at math, if he or she scores 'exceeds,' then he or she can get credit for the class. But if the student scores below 'exceeds,' then the student must pay for the cost of the test they took."
He said he expects that straight-A students will be the main group interested in the new testing-out policy.
Parker collaborated with Curriculum-Instruction and Professional Development Director Robin Samples on the policy.
The new Awarding Units and Transferring Credit Board Policy states that "students attempting to test-out must have parent permission and their parents shall be informed of potential costs prior to the EOCT administration. Course credit earned through testing-out shall be reported in the same way as credit earned through course completion."
The new Awarding Units and Transferring Credit Board Policy also says that "students shall be awarded credit only for courses that include concepts and skills based on the state-adopted curriculum for grades 9-12 approved by the State Board of Education. The Board shall award units of credit for middle school courses that are based on the state-adopted curriculum for grades 9-12. The superintendent or designee is authorized to establish procedures whereby a student may earn course credit by demonstrating subject area competency without regard to the amount of instructional time the student spends in the course."
In other business:
n Walker County School Board plans to extend a contract agreement with Apex Learning. Apex will provide 200 unlimited-enrollment subscriptions at a cost of $125 per subscription for a total cost of $25,000. This will allow all students access to credit recovery opportunities and provide them the chance to earn initial credit for classes not offered through traditional methods. Apex Learning will provide one day of professional learning for $2,200 for Walker County Schools instructors.
n The School Board plans to also approve a contract with Atlanta Gas Light Company to relocate the gas line at Highway 27 at the entrance to Saddle Ridge Elementary/Middle School. The gas line needs to be lowered to satisfy AGL requirements. The cost is being covered by construction contractor Rentenbach but will ultimately be paid by the school system through a change order for cost variations at the end of the project. Credits the Walker County School System has are expected to offset the cost. The agreement will extend to July 15, waving the original mid-April completion date.