Education Commission of the States Reports

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Exit Exams: Appeals Process or Alternative Ways of Demonstrating Competency

Many states with exit exams offer students who fail the exam the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills through an appeal process and/or alternative measures. This database indicates which states make available an appeal or alternative measure of competency for students who are unable to achieve a passing score on exit exams.

Why does it matter? Students benefit when they are able to demonstrate proficiency by using alternative means.

Highlights:

Reciprocity with other states: Seven states allow scores from other states to count as a passing score for that state's exam.

Substitute assessments: Twelve states allow students to pass another exam in lieu of the exit exam (e.g. the SAT).

Evaluation of course grades: Seven states allow students to appeal their exit exam scores by using, in part, grades in relevant courses.

Evaluation of classroom evidence: Seven states use an evaluation of student portfolios and other classroom work as a part of an appeal to a student's exit exam score.

Evaluation of other criteria: Seven states use other criteria as a part of an appeal. This includes participation in remediation, attendance, letters of recommendation, etc.

Accommodations for general education students: Two states allow general education students to use accommodations while taking an exit exam.

Issuance of alternative diploma or certificate: Nine states issue an alternative diploma or certificate to general education students who do not pass an exit exam but who meet all other graduation requirements.

Methodology: This information was collected from state statutes, rules and regulations, and state education agency Web sites, and will be updated as new policies and programs are enacted.

Sources for all data points are accessible through this link.

Last updated: March 12, 2008

Research conducted by Michael Colasanti. Please contact Jennifer Dounay Zinth at 303.299.3689 or jdounay@ecs.org with comments or questions about this database.

	Appeals process or alternative ways of demonstrating competency
Alabama	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: Yes, a student who passes the GED and fulfills all course requirements receive an Alabama Alternate Adult High School diploma, which carries the same weight as the standard diploma in terms of college admissions, federal financial aid and employment applications. Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: No
Alaska	Reciprocity with other states: Yes Substitute assessment: No Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate:Yes
American Samoa
Arizona	Reciprocity with other states: Yes, a transfer student may be exempt if the student has "successfully passed a statewide assessment test on state adopted standards that are substantially equivalent to the [Arizona] state board adopted academic standards." Substitute assessment: No Course grades: Yes, a student graduating in 2006 or 2007 only who fails one or more sections of the exit exam may augment his/her scores on the exam with course grades of "C" or better to help achieve passing scores. Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: No
Arkansas	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: Yes, if a student has failed the assessment three times, they must pass an alternative assessment to graduate Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: No
California	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: No Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: No
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: Yes, the ACT and SAT (only after student has not passed three times) Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: Yes
Georgia	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: No Course grades: No Classroom evidence: Yes Criteria-based: Yes Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: Yes
Hawaii
Idaho	Reciprocity with other states: Yes Substitute assessment: Yes Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: No
Illinois
Indiana	Reciprocity with other states: Yes Substitute assessment: No Course grades: Yes Classroom evidence: Yes Criteria-based: Yes Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: No
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: No Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: No
Maine
Maryland	Reciprocity with other states: Yes, transfer students may be exempted from the exit exam if they previously passed an equivalent course and are awarded credit at the new school. Substitute assessment: Yes Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: No
Massachusetts	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: No Course grades: Yes Classroom evidence: Yes Criteria-based: Yes Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: No
Michigan
Minnesota	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: No Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: Yes Alternative diploma or certificate: No
Mississippi	Reciprocity with other states: Yes Substitute assessment: No Course grades: Yes Classroom evidence: Yes Criteria-based: Yes Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: No
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: No Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: Yes
New Hampshire
New Jersey	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: Yes Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: No
New Mexico	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: Yes Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No; however, beginning with 2010-2011 school year, students may be evaluated based on "a portfolio of standards-based indicators established by the department" of education. Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: Yes
New York	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: Yes Course grades: Yes Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: Yes Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: No
North Carolina	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: Yes Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: Yes
North Dakota
Ohio	Reciprocity with other states: Yes Substitute assessment: No Course grades: Yes Classroom evidence: Yes Criteria-based: Yes Accommodations for general education students: Yes Alternative diploma or certificate: No
Oklahoma	Oklahoma is currently deliberating as to which appeals processes will be allowed. Exit exam will be implemented effective Class of 2012.
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Puerto Rico
Rhode Island
South Carolina	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: No Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: Yes
South Dakota
Tennessee	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: No Course grades: No Classroom evidence: Yes Criteria-based: Yes Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: Yes
Texas	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: Yes, students transferring to Texas in their senior year may substitute the SAT or ACT scores in English or math. Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: No
Utah
Vermont
Virgin Islands
Virginia	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: Yes Course grades: No Classroom evidence: No Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: Yes
Washington	Reciprocity with other states: No Substitute assessment: Yes Course grades: Yes Classroom evidence: Yes Criteria-based: No Accommodations for general education students: No Alternative diploma or certificate: No
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

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