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High school outlines final-exam exemption tied to attendance and grades
Summary
Chino Valley High School described a pilot policy letting students with strong attendance and grades apply to skip eligible final exams; the district set specific absence and grade thresholds and clarified which courses are excluded.
A high school pilot program described to the Chino Valley Unified District Governing Board would allow students who meet attendance and grade requirements to apply for final-exam exemptions in eligible courses.
The district's high school staff member Justine, who presented the plan, said students can apply for an exemption in a course if, at a specified deadline, they have no more than five total absences (excused or unexcused) for the school year and a projected semester grade of 80% or higher. "If they have 5 or less, then they can apply for this exemption," she said. Field trips and medical absences do not count against the total.
The policy mechanics: exams are scheduled across two days (periods 1-3 on day one, periods 4-6 on day two). If a student qualifies for an exemption for a period, the student's parent must excuse them and the student may miss that exam period; theoretically a student could qualify to be exempt from all six course exams. Exemptions do not apply to CTE off-campus courses or college dual-enrollment classes.
Why it matters: the district framed the exemption as an incentive to improve attendance among the ''middle'' student group for whom small improvements in attendance can move performance. Justine said the program is designed to reward consistent attendance and to offer catch-up opportunities for students who might otherwise fall behind.
Pilot and review process: the plan includes deadlines for different grades (seniors have an adjusted schedule tied to graduation rehearsal). Staff said a draft form and implementation guidelines were prepared and that they will monitor the program's effect on attendance. The board did not take formal action on implementation during the meeting; the item was presented for discussion and clarification.
Ending: Administrators said students and staff have responded with interest and that the district will track outcomes if the pilot proceeds to fuller implementation.
