Credit by Examination
The state’s education law, the Texas Administrative Code (TAC), will allow public school students to obtain credit in a course or grade level by passing tests approved by school district trustees.
Parents interested in Credit by Exam for their student need to contact the campus counselor.
Parent Information
Grade 1-12 Acceleration
Texas Education Code Chapter 74.24(c)(8) allows students to test out of course by taking a Credit by Examination (CBE) without prior instruction in the course(s) being tested. To earn credit for a grade or a subject without prior instruction (acceleration), the student must answer 80% of the questions correctly EHDC(LEGAL).
Kindergarten Acceleration EHDC(LOCAL)
Parents must submit the Kindergarten Acceleration Request Form packet by the applicable deadlines in order for their child to be considered for Kindergarten acceleration. The packet includes:
Credit Recovery
In accordance with local school district policy EHDB(Local), the principal or designee or the attendance committee, shall have authority to offer a student the opportunity to earn course credit (credit recovery) by examination in any of Grades 6-12 for an academic subject with prior instruction if the student meets the criteria and the student scores 70% on the CBE test. The student is required to pass any applicable end-of-course assessment instrument for the course (TAC 74.24(c)(12)) if receiving credit recovery course credit.
Additional Information
CBE tests are rigorous, targeting all the objectives for the courses covered.
To begin the process, parents and/or students contact the campus counselor or principal to determine eligibility and receive an application. Classwork, state assessments, and previous CBE scores along with attendance will be considered to determine eligibility.
There are no fees or costs for VISD students to take any CBE.
Applications must be received by the deadlines. Final registration approval will be determined by the Assessment Dept.
Students may register for one examination during each window. Exceptions will be considered for extenuating circumstances. If approved, secondary students may complete only two CBEs per day. Elementary students may complete only one CBE per day.
Students may not attempt to earn credit by examination for a course more than two times. Registered students that do not report for testing will forfeit their testing opportunity.
Students are responsible for reviewing applicable CBE study guides/review sheets for any specific requirements.
Students' identities must be verified by photo IDs (school photo ID, driver's license, or state/government-issued ID).
CBE results must be received before the first day of school to be considered for acceleration.
Results and placements are final.
Four windows are offered for grades 1-12 each school year pursuant to ordering deadlines.
The Assessment Department determines the vendor (currently UTHS or TTU K-12) and test type (paper or online).