Credit by Exam for Acceleration - No prior instruction

Credit by Exam (CBE) for Acceleration is an assessment option which provides an opportunity to earn grade level or course credit in which no prior formal instruction was completed. The CBE for Acceleration, CBEA, is designed for a very small percentage of learners who have both academic and emotional needs to advance a grade level (K-8) or a course (high school). CBEA is not designed for grade level recovery when a student is retained in a previous grade level. The only students that should take exams for acceleration are those who display an extremely advanced level of understanding of all learning objectives assessed by the CBE, which will be the grade level/course above the grade level/course in which a learner is currently enrolled. The district will cover the exam fees as long as exams are ordered within the testing windows set by the district and taken on a PFISD campus. Reference our Frequently Asked Questions document to learn more about the CBE testing process.

Credit by Exam - Prior Instruction

Credit by exam to earn course credit when a student has had prior instruction may occur under the following conditions:

The student is enrolling in the District from a non-acceredited private, public, or homeschool;
The student has failed a subject or course and credit recovery or summer school is not available for the course;
The student has earned a passing grade in a subject or course but has failed to earn credit because of excessive absences;

Students with prior formal instruction in a course must demonstrate a 70% or higher to earn credit. The district will only provide testing for the first condition; other conditions will need to arrange testing through the UT system with district approval. Check with your campus counselor to determine options available at the campus for credit recovery.

There are two types of Credit by Exam (state definitions):

1) Acceleration:	Students meeting 90% standard can be considered for Kindergarten acceleration in addition to other social and academic checkpoints. Students meeting the 80% standard can be considered for grade level promotion (1-5) or can attain subject acceleration/credits (6-12). In order to qualify for this type of CBE, a student cannot have any prior instruction in the grade level or course for which they are seeking credit. Provision for this assessment is required by law (Texas Administrative Code §74.24). A school district must provide at least four testing testing windows annually for this assessment (see dates below).
2) Recovery:	Students wishing to recover credits (9-12) or be considered for grade level promotion (K-8; generally, only students who were held back a grade qualify for this assessment) can arrange with a participating testing organization to take this test. School districts ARE NOT required to provide these assessments. If a student wishes to take this type of CBE, a parent/guardian must make arrangements directly with a participating testing organization offering CBEs.

1) Acceleration:

Students meeting 90% standard can be considered for Kindergarten acceleration in addition to other social and academic checkpoints. Students meeting the 80% standard can be considered for grade level promotion (1-5) or can attain subject acceleration/credits (6-12). In order to qualify for this type of CBE, a student cannot have any prior instruction in the grade level or course for which they are seeking credit. Provision for this assessment is required by law (Texas Administrative Code §74.24). A school district must provide at least four testing testing windows annually for this assessment (see dates below).

2) Recovery:

Students wishing to recover credits (9-12) or be considered for grade level promotion (K-8; generally, only students who were held back a grade qualify for this assessment) can arrange with a participating testing organization to take this test. School districts ARE NOT required to provide these assessments. If a student wishes to take this type of CBE, a parent/guardian must make arrangements directly with a participating testing organization offering CBEs.

Credit by Exam for Acceleration Local Procedures and Processes:

With the exception of Kindergarten, all students will need to meet the 80% or above standard for each course taken in order to be considered for promotion or credit. In grades 1-8 students need to meet the 80% or above standard in all core subjects listed at the grade level for promotion. Students may only accelerate past one level per year. In grades 9-12, students may accelerate by single subject. CBE's may only be attempted once per testing window and only two total attempts may be offered.

Process:

Kindergarten	Acceleration out of kindergarten is based upon both academic and social skills criteria. Students must meet the 90% standard on each of 4 tests: language arts, math, science, & social studies in addition to other social and academic checkpoints. Kinder CBE testing may only be attempted one time. There are two testing windows to choose from: summer or fall. Kindergarten Acceleration Process Parent and Teacher Social Skills Checklist
1st - 5th grades	Students must meet the 80% standard on each of 4 tests: language arts, math, science, & social studies.
6th Grade	Students must meet the 80% standard on each of 4 tests: language arts, math, science, & social studies
7th Grade	Students must meet the 80% standard on each of 4 tests: language arts, math, science, Texas History & Geography
8th Grade	Students must meet the 80% standard on each of 4 tests: language arts, math, science, U.S. History & citizenship
9th - 12th grades	Students must meet the 80% standard on any of the following course exams: Course Exams

Credit by Exam for Acceleration Timeline

FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS:
**Credit by examination, TEC 28.023(c) requires a school district to award a student credit on the basis of a successful score on an examination and to enter the examination score on the student's transcript. Students may use credit by examination to fulfill their course requirements.

CBE Testing Windows - Pflugerville ISD 2024 - 2025
Administration	Testing Window	Registration Deadline	Grade Levels	Special Notes
Summer 2024	July 22,2024 – August 09, 2024	May 24, 2024	K-12	Registered students will be contacted by campus with testing format and date.
Fall 2024	August 26,2024 - September 13,2024	August 16,2024	K-12	Registered students will be contacted by campus with test date.
Winter 2024	November 11,2024 - December 13,2024	October 30, 2024	6-12	Administration for acceleration in one semester and high school courses only. Registered students will be contacted by campus with test date.
Early Spring 2025	February 10,2025 - March 7,2025	January 28, 2025	6-12	Administration for acceleration in one semester and high school courses only. Registered students will be contacted by campus with test date.
End of Year 2025	May 5,2025 - May 23,2025	April 09, 2025	K-12	Registered students will be contacted by campus with test date.
Summer 2025	July 21,2025 - August 8,2025	May 23,2025	K-12	Registered students will be contacted by campus with test date.

CBE for Acceleration Forms and Resources

Registration Forms

Grades K-5: Elementary - English
Grades K-5: Elementary-Spanish
Grades 6-8: Middle School - English
Grades 6-8: Middle School - Spanish
Grades 9-12: High School - English
Grades 9-12: High School - Spanish

Study Resources

Grades K-12: Study Guides - The University of Texas
Grades K-12: Study Guides - Texas Tech University

All tests will be ordered from The University of Texas unless there is no test available in which the test will come from Texas Tech University. Learn more about the exams at: University of Texas| Texas Tech University

Please contact your child's school counselor for information and registration. All registrations must come from PfISD campuses to ensure that correct exams are requested and that campuses have a plan in place to administer the tests. Most CBE's in PfISD are ordered through the University of Texas.

Pflugerville Independent School District

Counseling

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