Finals Exemption Policy Dependent on Overall Grades

The Bridgewater-Raritan Board of Education recently heard the first reading of a policy that will allow students who earn certain grades to be exempt from final exams at the end of each year.

The exemption policy is for senior students only.

According to the policy, students who qualify for the exemption may opt out of all final exams. Previously, they were only allowed to opt out of a maximum of one exam.

The policy states that the exemption can apply in one of two scenarios:

In the first scenario, a senior can be exempt from taking a final exam in one full-year course if the student has received no grade lower than a B during all marking periods and on the midterm exam.

In the second, a senior may be exempt from taking the final in each course he or she has been enrolled in so long as the student has earned an average for the year that is at least a 90.

As for the need for teachers to get the grades in quickly, Cheryl Dyer, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, said that students who anticipate they might be eligible for exemption could ask teachers to calculate their grades earlier, especially since the marking period ends a few days before exams start anyway.

“Students who are borderline might not know until right before exams, and those who aren’t would know earlier,” she said. “It’s the way we’ve always done it, and the teachers have said it is not an issue to provide students with adequate notice of eligibility.”

Dyer said the policy only relates to tests that are planned to be given on the designated final exam days. Any projects or final tests given before the designated exam days cannot be excused for students.

The policy should come before the board of education for a final hearing and possible approval at Thursday's meeting.

What do you think of the new plans for the finals exemption policy?