SALISBURY — High-performing students in every high school grade will now be able to exempt their exams pending certain criteria, following a new policy enacted by the Rowan-Salisbury School System Board of Education on Monday. 

Dr. Sajata Latten, the RSS chief academic officer, presented an updated amendment to the proposed policy to the board on Monday at the central office. 

“This came before you a couple of months ago but we wanted to bring it back because we received some feedback from principals that talked about the concise language that needed to happen with it and they also wanted to make sure that this opportunity was just not isolated for seniors but for students in grades 9 through 12,” Latten said.  

The policy change permits exemptions in certain classes based on letter grade and number of absences in the semester. 

Per the policy, the board intends to “reward high academic achievement by exempting qualifying students from taking final examinations” according to the following criteria: 

1. A first or second semester ninth through twelfth grade student may be exempted from taking the final examination in each class for which the following conditions are met: the student (a) earns at least a “B” average (80) in a particular course, and (b) maintains six or fewer absences for the semester.
2. No students may be exempt from the examination if the state assessment is used as the final exam. A final/semester exam will be given in all non-EOC courses for grades 9-12 in all high schools excluding AP courses with AP final exams or courses with CTE post assessments or college course examinations.
3. Exemption is optional. If a qualifying student wishes to take an examination from which he/she is exempt, the student may do so. The final examination grade for a student qualifying for exemption will be used only if it improves the student’s grade in the course.
4. The final grade of a student opting not to take the final examination will be computed based on the average of the first and second quarter tests and course work completed during that semester.
5. At least two days before the examination period, teachers must notify students who qualify for an exam exemption. A qualifying student must notify the teacher of whether they intend to take the examination at least one day prior to the examination.
6. Students who qualify for exam exemptions are expected to continue to attend classes and complete all assignments.
7. Any high school student who is enrolled in an Advanced Placement (AP) course and takes the AP exam is exempt from the regular class final exam. Any high school student participating in an AP class first semester and who commits to taking the AP exam in the spring shall be exempted.  Students choosing not to take the AP Exam will not have the opportunity to receive college credit.

Vice Chair Kathy McDuffie Sanborn motioned to approve the amendment to the policy. Board member Sabrina Harris seconded. It passed unanimously.