Challenge Procedures for High School English

There are two types of testing-out procedures, depending on circumstances: Competency tests and challenge tests. The two types are explained and the testing requirements are outlined below:

Competency Test

The competency test is administered when students have taken ½ credit English classes on-line through facilities other than iSchool and desire to have said credits count towards their English credit requirements for graduation. Since DUSD only recognizes English credit taken through iSchool, normally students would be granted ½ elective credit for English on-line courses. Successful competency test scores will allow these ½ credits to apply to appropriate English course equivalencies. The English course grade recorded on the transcript would be the grade obtained in the on-line course itself once the competency test is passed.

When a student presents a transcript with ½ credit English courses, the student would follow the challenge test procedures for the appropriate semester credit desired. A minimum grade of 70% must be achieved on each test component for competency credit to be granted.

Challenge Test

Students who desire to challenge a course in core English classes have indicated that they have mastered the course content and are tested on those components of the course that indicate mastery. As such, there should be absolutely no teaching or guidance prior to the administration of the challenge tests. All testing, including longer writing components, must be proctored on site.

At grade levels 9 – 12, the following steps will be taken if a student requests to challenge a course in English 1-2, English 3-4, English 5-6or English 7-8:

  1. Administer the end-of-course reading standards test. Time limit: 2 hours
  2. For grades 9 and 10 this would be the final reading benchmark. For grades 11 and 12 this would be the district competency/final exam test.
  3. A minimum score of 70% would indicate mastery of the reading component of the course, and the challenge process would continue.
  4. If a score of 70% is not achieved, the challenge process ends.
  5. Administer the end-of course writing benchmark. Time limit: 3 hours
  6. A minimum score of 28 points out of 36 based on the six-trait writing rubric is required to show mastery, and the challenge process would continue.
  7. If a score of 28 points out of 36 based on the six-trait rubric is not achieved, the challenge process ends.
  8. Administer the major writing pieces per semester, one at a time. See curriculum for components. For example, at the junior level a research paper is required. If the student does not achieve a score of 70% on any one of the successive writing requirements, the challenge process ends immediately.

Rationale: Students must show mastery on the major components of each course, which include reading and writing standards-based assessments. Administering the easier-to-score readingmultiple choice test first may eliminate the need for more time-consuming proctoring and grading of the writing components.

AP Classes: Challenge Tests will not be given for AP classes. Not only are these classes dependent on a strong discussion component which cannot be duplicated outside the classroom, but the AP credit itself is only offered by colleges upon students achieving a pre-determined score on the AP tests.