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District discusses one-year trial of senior final-exam incentive tied to absences in 2025–26 handbook
Summary
Administrators presented a proposed 2025–26 handbook change: a one-year trial requiring seniors who exceed specified absences to take final exams and raising the passing threshold to 73%, with the stated goal of improving attendance.
Administrators told the Mahomet-Seymour CUSD 3 Board of Education on May 5 that the district plans a one-year trial in 2025–26 to use senior final exams as an attendance incentive and to raise a passing threshold used in final grading.
The presenter said the district’s dual-credit curriculum is set by Parkland College and that AP teachers generally value finals as preparation for AP exams. The presenter described a proposed change to raise the passing threshold from 69.5% to 73% and said the proposal is intended to align the “C” range and encourage student preparation. "We propose that we raise it to 73% off the 69.5," the presenter said. The administrator also said, "This is a 1 year trial of the book."
On attendance, the presenter said the handbook’s incentive structure treats a limited number of absences as allowable and that the proposal does not change the district's current allowances for college visits or medical appointments. The presenter said the district’s practice is four absences per class per semester for the incentive calculation and that the count resets each semester. The change discussed would apply initially to seniors; staff said they may consider extending it to juniors if the trial is “wildly successful.”
Board members asked about success criteria and measurement. The presenter said the district has compiled some historical data on senior finals but has not yet set a numeric success target: "To be honest, we haven't said, like, this would be, like this this is what we consider success." The proposal was discussed but the transcript shows no formal board vote on the handbook change during the organizational meeting; administrators described it as a proposal and a one-year trial to be evaluated after implementation.
The discussion included references to assistant principals’ attention to attendance work and to Dr. Begbie and Mr. Bailey as staff consulted during development of the proposal.
