Credit by Exam

The objective of Exam for Acceleration without prior instruction is to allow students in grades K-12 the opportunity to receive credit for a specific course or receive grade acceleration. Students in K-5 wanting to test for grade acceleration must test prior to the start of the school year to ensure they will not have any instruction in the particular grade being tested. Students in grades 6-12 wanting to test for course acceleration are able to test at any of the times offered during the four testing windows. There are a few steps to be taken for a student who is taking an examination for course credit/grade acceleration without prior instruction. They are as followed:

1. As of September 1, the student must be 5 years old or older.
2. The student’s counselor or district representative determines/recommends the student’s acceleration.
3. Application and exam deposit have been submitted by registration deadline.

Students who take the CBE’s without prior instruction must score 80% or higher on each of the four content areas to receive grade acceleration and 80% on the examinations for course credit. The mastery score will be documented on the student’s official records/transcripts.

Kennedale ISD requests that parents or guardians who have students taking Acceleration exams make a $25 deposit per exam to the district to reserve the date. Once the student has attended the exam administration dates and have taken their exams, the parent or guardian will be refunded their money. 

KISD Exam for Acceleration Without Prior Instruction Registration Form

Please note: A student may not take the grade acceleration exam more than once for a particular grade. A student may take the examination for course credit only once during each testing window but may not make more than two attempts to recover their credit.

The objective of CBE with prior instruction is to allow students in grades 6-12 to demonstrate mastery in a specific course/subject that have received instruction in. Situations in which this would be allowed are when a student has failed the course, enrolled in KISD from a non-accredited school, or has received a passing grade but did not receive credit due to excessive absences. There are a few steps to be taken for a student who is taking an examination with prior instruction. They are as followed:

1. A counselor will determine the student’s need for the examination (failing grade, excessive absences, or transferred from non-accredited school) and will confirm that prior instruction in the specific course(s) has been provided.
2. Application and exam fee have been submitted by registration date.

Students who take the CBE with prior instruction must score 70% or higher to have mastered the subject/course. The mastery score will be documented on the student’s official records/transcripts.

KISD Credit by Exam With Prior Instruction Registration Form

Please note: A student may take the examination for course credit only once during each testing window but may not make more than two attempts to recover their credit.

Students who register for Credit by Exams with prior instruction will be responsible for the cost of each part of the exam. For example, an exam that has a Part A and Part B, each costing $25.00, will owe Kennedale ISD $50.00. A payment must be made before the ordering of the exam.

Per Education Code 28.023; 19 TAC 74.24(a)(1), a district shall administer exams no fewer than four times per year. The testing windows set by the SBOE are as followed:

• October 1 - December 31
• January 1 - March 31
• April 1 - June 30
• July 1 - September 30

Kennedale ISD Testing Dates

Cycle	Window	Registration Deadline	Exam Administration	LOTE Exam Administration
1	Oct 1 - Dec 31	September 13, 2024	October 17-18, 2024	September 3-16, 2024
2	Jan 1 - Mar 31	January 17, 2025	February 20-21, 2025	January 7-21, 2025
3	Apr 1 - June 30	May 2, 2025	June 12-13, 2025	June 13, 2025
4	July 1 - Sept 30	June 20, 2025	July 10-11, 2025	July 11, 2025

Testing is conducted in 3-hour sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Students are limited to one exam per session.

No late applications will be accepted after the deadline.

The objective of LOTE (Language Other Than English) Assessments without prior instruction is to allow students in grades 7-12 the opportunity to receive credit for a specific course and any levels below the tested course.

The same rules for the LOTE Assessments apply when it comes to with and without prior instruction.

Placement Exams are given to students who want to be placed into a higher course for the Spanish language.

Procedures for LOTE are the same as CBE course credit and grade acceleration. However, tests are to be given on a separate day as a different proctor will be needed.

Kennedale ISD will follow the standards and guidelines given by Kennedale’s Board of Trustees’ Local Policy as well as the State Board of Education. Students will be given a fair opportunity to test as long as the above criteria is met.

General Information

Kennedale ISD offers students in grades 4 through 7 the opportunity to advance in math through Credit by Exam, provided they meet specific eligibility criteria. "Acceleration" refers to earning credit for coursework for which the student has not formally received instruction.

This CBE process allows eligible students to do the following, ensuring the standards for compacted/advanced curriculum are mastered.

• Skip the  grade level of math instruction for which proficiency was demonstrated on the exam
• Move from on level Math 6 to Honors Math 7, or from on level Math 7 to Honors Algebra

Qualifications

To qualify for course acceleration in Grades 4-7, students must 

• Pass a district screener
• Once screener is passed, then pass the CBE test
  • Incoming 4th and 5th grade - 90% or higher 
  • Incoming 7th and 8th grade - 80% or higher 

To qualify, students must consistently demonstrate advanced problem-solving and critical thinking skills—not just strong computational ability or memorization.

Math acceleration is a significant commitment and may not be appropriate for every student. Before registering for the Math Acceleration Exam, parents and students should review the Recommended Criteria for Seeking Math Acceleration section below. 

Recommended Criteria for Seeking Math Acceleration

Math Course Acceleration is not right for all students. Below are recommended criteria for students who may benefit.

• Math Achievement (MAP) 95th percentile or higher  
• Non-verbal or Quantitative Aptitude (CogAT, Otis-Lennon, NNAT, etc.) 95th percentile or higher
• Mathematics overall average of 95 or higher
• Is socially and emotionally prepared for success
• Responds well to changes and challenges
• Desires to accelerate
• Enjoys problem solving and critical thinking activities
• Is proactive and comfortable in asking for help when needed
• Exhibits strong organizational and time-management skills
• Can collaborate will with other students older than his/her age
• Is comfortable with attending math instruction in an alternate setting/location*

Accelerated Math Pathway

Students accelerating in math will be responsible for any state testing for the above grade level standards being taught. 

Below shows examples of students who accelerate in math through CBE.

*Students will participate in instruction with students and teachers at the next grade level. Additionally, 5th graders enrolled in 6th grade Honors Math will attend class at KJHS, and those in 8th grade enrolled in Geometry will attend class at KHS.

**Information regarding the testing requirements for students in Grades 3-8 who are enrolled in a high school course that does not have a corresponding STAAR EOC assessment may be accessed here.

2024–2025 Credit by Exam (CBE) and Accelerated Math Testing

Credit by Exam (CBE) allows students to earn credit for grade-level or course-level content by demonstrating mastery through an exam. 

Accelerated Math Testing:
Accelerated Math exams are administered during designated CBE windows (please see Examination Testing Windows section above) and are available to students seeking advancement in the mathematics sequence. Eligibility is based on district qualifications.

For any questions, please contact your campus counselor or Dr. Stephanie Devlin at devlins@kisdtx.net.

Students seeking an Exam for Acceleration must earn a passing score on the district screener.