The text below is copied from the email that Epic Administration sent families regarding State testing for the 2020–2021 School year.
Epic Charter Schools places value on State exams that provide data necessary for instruction.
Due to the pandemic, last school year’s State exams for 3rd–8th grade and 11th grade were cancelled by the State Department of Education. The agency is proceeding with State exams this school year, but they are giving schools more flexibility to the degree to which families can be compelled to participate, as well as a longer testing window for schools to provide social distancing during test administration.
The 2020–2021 Oklahoma State testing window for Epic Charter Schools is nearing, and we are hearing your concerns about attending an in-person event of this magnitude. Please know for the safety of our families, students, and staff, we will be adhering to substantive safety protocols at all Epic testing sites. Safety protocols are posted on the Epic website here.
Grade level specifics:
THIRD GRADE: Students who do not sit for a State exam in the Spring of 2021 will be required to complete a Spring benchmark assessment in order to promote to the fourth grade.
FOURTH–EIGHTH GRADE: Students who do not sit for a State exam in the Spring of 2021 will be required to complete a Spring benchmark assessment. Grade promotion will be based on curriculum completion and grades.
HS JUNIORS: Juniors who do not take State exams in the Spring of 2021 will not be eligible for graduation until they complete State exams in the Spring of 2022. In other words, you cannot graduate until you take these tests. Benchmarks cannot be substituted.
HS SENIORS: Current seniors who were NOT enrolled in a public high school and classified as a high school junior in 2019–2020 must complete State exams to graduate. Questions regarding specific student status should be directed to the teacher of record.
It is our hope that all families will attend their scheduled in-person State exam sessions. However, with the increasing health concerns in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, we realize this may not be a reality for some. At this time, there is no virtual option for completing State-required assessments. We need to know your family’s intent for State testing for scheduling purposes.
Please submit your teaching intention for your child by clicking here. [link is coming]
