1. 2005 1 Waivers Waivers fall into these categories: –Entering Public School System Late –Rare or Unusual Circumstances –Other State Exit Exam

2. 2005 2 Waivers Tips A governing body shall grant a waiver from passing the HSGQE –governing body = local school board Student MUST have completed all district graduation requirements to receive a waiver No waivers except Passing Another States Competency Exam may be issued prior to last semester of students intended year of graduation.

3. 2005 3 Waiver Appeals A student or student's parent may appeal to the department the denial of a request for a waiver from passing the HSGQE Appeal must be submitted on department form Forms on Website: http://www.eed.state.ak.us/tls/assessment/hsgqe. html http://www.eed.state.ak.us/tls/assessment/hsgqe. html Appeal form must be postmarked no later than 30 days after receipt of the notice of the denial Appeal determined on the record and decided by a panel consisting of three members appointed by the commissioner

4. 2005 4 POPQUIZ

5. 2005 5 Can a student be waived from taking the HSGQE and earn a regular diploma? YES NO

6. 2005 6 Can a student be waived from passing the HSGQE and earn a regular diploma if the student has the flu during the test administration in his 12 th grade year? YES NO

7. 2005 7 Can a student be waived from passing the HSGQE and earn a regular diploma if the student has been in private school in Alaska and enrolls in public school in the spring of the students senior year? YES NO

8. 2005 8 Can a student be waived from the HSGQE and earn a regular diploma if any of his completed HSGQE exams was lost during shipping back to the test vendor during his high school career? YES NO

9. 2005 9 Can a student be waived from passing the HSGQE and earn a regular diploma if the students grandparent dies in the students final semester of intended graduation? YES NO

10. 2005 10 Passed Another States Competency Exam 4 AAC 06.777 4 AAC 06.777 Student must: –Complete all graduation requirements of district District must: –determine that the examination the student passed in the other state –(A) was a statewide examination; –(B) tested reading, English, and mathematics; and –(C) was a requirement to receive a secondary school diploma. Consider students intended graduation year & when states exam goes into effect [WASL] MORE

11. 2005 11 Passed Another States Competency Exam (cont.) Student continues to take the HSGQE until the student passes the HSGQE or the local school board grants the waiver. The student may submit waiver at any time after enrolling in the public school system in this state. The school board may deliberate and take action on the application at any time after the student submits the application.

12. 2005 12 Guide to Other State Exit Exams Summary of state requirements (updated annually)Summary of state requirements (updated annually) Comprehensive Report BACK

13. 2005 13 Rare and Unusual Circumstances A student may be waived from PASSING* the HSGQE if: – a serious AND sudden illness, physical injury, or disability arises in the last semester of students intended year of graduation; andserious AND sudden illness, physical injury, or disability –the condition prevents student from taking the HSGQE BACK *Student is NOT waived from taking exam.

14. 2005 14 Late Arrival A student who resides in Alaska but attends a private school or is home schooled and transfers to a public school with two or fewer semesters remaining in the student's year of intended graduation is NOT eligible for a waiver. A student who arrives late must STILL take the HSGQE BACK

15. 2005 15 Exclusions Pregnancy or childbirth Treatable depression, stress, or stress-related conditions, unless an affidavit or certification verifies that an emergency occurred that meets the requirements in regulation A condition caused by illegal alcohol or substance use BACK

16. 2005 16 Rare and Unusual Circumstances: System Error Completed examination materials from the last administration of the student's year of intended graduation are lost in transit between the school district and the department after the test has been administered School or district failed to administer the exam at one of the scheduled administration dates while the student was in the 12th grade MORE

17. 2005 17 System Error (cont.) SWD and IEP enrolled in 9 th grade or higher in public school system in 2002-03; Student was enrolled in 9 th grade or higher in 2002-2003 AND –IEP team relied on EED advice re: successful completion of alternate leading to diploma AND –Student participated in alternate prescribed by students IEP team BACK

18. 18 TRY AGAIN! BACK

19. 2005 19 Rare and Unusual: Parent Death The death of the student's parent is grounds for waiver if the death occurs within the last semester of the students year of intended graduation

20. 2005 20 Questions ?? Cathy Anderegg cathy_anderegg@eed.state.ak.us 465-8432