Exemption policy for exams ready for debate
Proposal defines who would be eligible to opt out of finals
Students at Brookfield's two public high schools will see a final exam exemption policy in place when they return to class this fall if the Elmbrook School Board approves a measure introduced last week.
Superintendent Matt Gibson worked with the principals at Brookfield Central and Brookfield East high schools to craft the policy, which Gibson said he would like to see implemented in time for the 2009-10 school year.
Exemptions would be allowed based on academic and attendance-based criteria, including:
• a semester grade of 93 percent or higher in the course to be exempted;
• no unexcused absences during the semester;
• no more than five excused absences (not including field trips, athletic competitions, etc.) per semester;
• no more than one study hall on the student's schedule per semester; and
• no violations of the district's academic honesty policy.
Only one exemption would be allowed per semester, and students would not be able to exempt the same course both semesters. Students would need to let teachers know they want to opt out of a final exam by the middle of the second or fourth quarter, depending on the semester.
The same policy would be in place at both high schools.
A survey of 19 area high schools conducted last year by a leadership team at Central found that 12 allowed exemptions, but policies differed greatly between those schools.
Gibson said he wants to set stringent guidelines. It is an approach School Board President Tom Gehl supports.
"I'm in support of the bar (being) set higher," Gehl said. "I want this to be motivation to reward stellar performance."
Gehl said a final exam policy would put in writing a practice that some teachers already have implemented.
"I think this is essentially going to affirm what is actually happening (at the school)," Gehl said. "I feel good about this."
The policy draft will go to the School Board for discussion this month and return to the board for a vote in August.
NEXT STEP
WHAT: School Board discussion of final exam exemption policy
WHEN: 6 p.m. July 21
WHERE: Central Administrative Offices, 13780 Hope St.
CONTACT: (262) 781-3030
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