March 17, 2006

2006 State Testing Exemptions

In June, after test scores are posted, ISBE will ask districts to identify those students who may be exempt due to the reasons below. The process for doing this identification will be announced later.

You cannot know in the advance of testing whether a student will be exempt. You need to plan to test the student and may file an exemption after testing if there was a valid reason for that student’s non-participation. Therefore, districts must keep all student data - SIS demographics and Assessment Pre-ID data - up to date and accurate.

1. Medical Exemption: Students who are in residential drug/alcohol/psychological treatment program(s), or who have been admitted to a hospital because of emergency medical procedures (automobile/other motor vehicle accidents, emergency surgeries, etc.), may be excluded from taking the state assessment.

2. Homebound Exemption: Students who are on homebound status and who are too ill — either physically or psychologically — to be able to test may be excluded, on a case-by-case basis, from taking the state assessment.

3. Students who are in jail or a locked facility will not be tested. Illinois students who reside in or attend a facility located out-of-state or out-of-country will not be tested. This includes Illinois students in foreign exchange programs.

4. Other exemptions such as “Not Enrolled at Time of Testing” and “Not in Valid Grade at Time of Testing” are still being finalized by ISBE, including one or more exemptions to address students who transfer in or transfer out during testing windows.

For Alternate Assessment Students who are to be exempt, please contact Marilyn Leveque at 217-782-4823 or mleveque@isbe.net

REMINDERS:

• Students who are exempt will not be included by ISBE in your enrollment count for calculation of AYP participation.

• Students who are absent during testing and are not exempt will count against the school and district’s participation rates.

More information will be forthcoming.

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Illinois State Board of Education
100 North First Street
Springfield, IL 62777