RATIONALE/OBJECTIVE:

Accurate assessment of the competency development of students involved in the instructional program is considered a prime responsibility of professional personnel of the Cobb County School District. This assessment should involve both periodic examinations throughout the grading period and final assessment intended to measure the capability of students to synthesize their knowledge acquisition throughout the semester. Therefore, it shall be the responsibility of all high school teachers in Cobb County to assess students in each of the courses of study for which they are responsible at the end of each semester, and this assessment shall cover all objectives for the course of study as established in the applicable course guide. This final assessment shall count no less than 10% and no more than 20% of the student's final grade according to the judgment of the teacher; however, the local school principal shall be responsible for seeing that there is consistency in the grade percentage of the final examination within the same courses taught in the school. This policy shall be applicable to all students and all courses of study. The Superintendent and administrative staff are authorized to establish regulations for the policy to accommodate special education students, transfer students, exemptions related to exemplary attendance, and others to assure fairness in the administration of the policy.

RULE:

The following procedures shall be observed with regard to the administration of final examinations in the high schools of Cobb County:

(1) Students who transfer into the Cobb County School District during the semester shall be expected to take a final examination covering the course objectives for the semester.

(2) Students being served through special education programs shall be involved in final examinations as specified in their individualized educational plan. Such students who are involved in a general course of study shall be expected to take final examinations but may receive prescribed support and assistance from the appropriate special education teacher.

(3) It shall be the responsibility of local school principals to organize a system with their instructional leadership personnel to ensure that final examinations given in each course of study are comprehensive of the objectives specified in the appropriate county course guide.

(4) Students should be advised within the first five (5) days of the semester concerning the percentage of the total grade that the final examination will involve.

(5) Provisions should be made by each school to assure that students have access to final examinations for eleven (11) work days after the distribution of report cards at the end of each semester in case they wish to raise questions concerning their final grade. This can be accomplished by returning final examination papers to students, by each teacher maintaining final examination papers for their students or by the maintenance of a central school file of final examination papers.

(6) High school administrators are authorized to develop student attendance incentive plans that they deem effective for their schools involving exemptions from final examinations for students. The Executive Director for High School, School Improvement, will coordinate the approval process for attendance incentive plans which include final examination exemptions.

Legal Reference: OCGA '' 20-2-50: 20-2-57; 20-2-59

Adopted: 8/11/82
Reclassified an Administrative Rule: 9/1/04
Revised: 4/28/83; 8/8/84; 7/10/86; 7/10/91; 7/28/94