EMSISD proposal would reinstate semester exams as 10% of grade to boost attendance; board to consider in May

District leaders presented a plan to reinstate cumulative semester exams in secondary grades, arguing exams would incentivize attendance and provide a local measure of cumulative learning.

Miss Aloway and Mr. Russell said exams would count for 10% of a semester grade, be locally created by PLCs, and include a hold‑harmless provision for students who qualify for exemptions. Exemption thresholds proposed include 95% course average with up to three absences, 85% with up to two absences, and 75% with one absence; funded absences (medical partial‑day, college visits, court appearances) would not count against exemption eligibility. Exams would be administered during the last week of the semester and makeup tests would be available within one week after term end.

Trustees and teachers asked for operational clarity on funded‑absence definitions, whether exemptions are per class or semester, and how exams would affect instruction calendars. Mr. Russell said PLC‑created exams would be campus‑led and administratively approved to ensure alignment. Several trustees noted historical data showing attendance declines after finals were removed; administrators said their internal analysis shows restoring exams could raise attendance by multiple percentage points and materially improve average daily attendance and associated funding.

If the board approves the proposal in May, administration plans to revise the grading and reporting handbook in late May–June and to launch family and staff communications before the next school year.