Credit by exam (CBE) is one method for K-12 students to demonstrate proficiency in grade level or course content. The Texas Education Code (TEC), §28.023, allows students to either accelerate a grade level (skip) or earn credit for a course on the basis credit by examination. CBE is used for students who are enrolling from home schools, unaccredited private school, and foreign schools, and for students who have no records available.

Credit-by-examination assessments (CBEs) must be approved by each local board of trustees for their district. CBEs are administered by the district or test provider in accordance with local district policy. Scores will be reported directly to the school district and/or student. TEA does not have access to student results for CBE.

• Frequency: The assessment is offered online four times per year. 
• Seat Time: The average seat time is approximately three hours per test.
• Exam Limits: A student cannot attempt to receive credit in a particular subject more than two times.

K-12 students who either want to accelerate a grade level (skip) or earn a credit for a course. 

To qualify for Kindergarten Acceleration, the student must meet these qualifications:

• The student must be five years of age on or before September 1 of the current school year per HISD Board policy EHDC(LOCAL). 
• The student must be registered at their zoned campus for Kindergarten in HISD. 

2024-25 Critical Dates

Assessment​	Application Window​	Test Date​	Guidelines​
CBE​ #1​	7.15 – 7.19​	8.5 – 8.16​	Can be used for beginning of the year acceleration.​
CBE​ #2 ​	10.14 – 10.25​	11.04 – 11.11​ ​	Not to be used for mid-year acceleration​
CBE​ #3​	1.21 – 1.30​	2.10 – 2.18​ ​	Not to be used for mid-year acceleration; 8th grade World Language Only​
CBE​ #4​	5.27 – 6.02 ​	6.16 – 6.23​ ​	Can be used for the upcoming year acceleration; 5th grade Dual Language Immersion Program Only; 8th grade World Language Only​

The district will cover CBEs during the designated CBE administration windows. Parents will cover the cost of CBEs outside of the HISD designated windows.

Process / Cost Ordering Outside the Window:

UTHS (link)	Texas Tech (link)	Avant (link)
Individual semester and K-8 exam: $70 (includes remote proctoring fee)​ Individual semester exam for grades K-2: $50 (only available in print form for in-district testing)​ Individual yearlong World Language exam: $125 (includes online proctoring fee)	CBE Cost: $65 + Online Proctoring Fee: $15 = $80	Individual test taker: $59.90 ($39.90 + $20 remote fee)

CBE Request Form 

2024-25 Critical Dates

Note: Parents/guardians must order during the designated application window dates. Contact School Counselor to check the status of CBE request approval. 

Assessment​	Application Window​	Test Date​	Guidelines​
CBE​ #1​	7.15 – 7.19​	8.5 – 8.16​	Can be used for current year acceleration and beginning of the year promotion​
CBE​ #2 ​	10.14 – 10.25​	11.04 – 11.11​ ​	Not to be used for mid-year acceleration​
CBE​ #3​	1.21 – 1.27​	2.10 – 2.18​ ​	Not to be used for mid-year acceleration; 8th grade World Language Only​
CBE​ #4​	5.27 – 6.02 ​	6.16 – 6.23​ ​	Can be used for the upcoming year acceleration; 5th grade Dual Language Immersion Program Only; 8th grade World Language Only​

1. Parent/student submits the CBE Request Form to the Counselor. 
2. Counselor receives CBE course request auto email and verifies report card/transcript. Counselor approves/denies request and notifies parent within 24-48 hours.
3. Once approved, CTC will receive an auto email including the ordering link to submit the request during the application window.
4. Assessment Department pulls the order submissions from the CBE Application Form (raw data file) and orders CBE through vendor.
5. CTC/Counselor organizes the CBE on campus and informs parent about testing logistics.
6. Assessment Department receives results from vendor within 1-2 weeks and sends to campus, as well as District Registrar.

With the approval of the local board of trustees, a school district may develop its own CBEs or purchase CBEs. For each high school course, a local board is required to approve at least four CBEs, to the extent available, including College Board Advanced Placement (AP) and College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) exams. CBEs may also be developed by Texas Tech University, The University of Texas at Austin, the local school district, or another provider if the exams meet certain criteria.

The Texas Administrative Code (TAC), §74.24(c)(2), requires that each school district or provider of an assessment, including Texas Tech University and The University of Texas at Austin, must certify that each CBE 

• covers all assessable TEKS for the course;
• has not been published or made publicly available;
• will only be administered in a secure environment under standardized conditions by a school district or institution of higher education;
• has been evaluated to ensure test scores can be interpreted as indicators of what the test is intended to measure; and
• has been evaluated to ensure consistency of test results across testing conditions.

A school district or the provider of the assessment must make public an annual report, including:

• the test development process;
• a statement certifying that the examination meets the criteria above;
• the number of students who took each examination;
• the number of students who scored 70% or above on each examination;
• the number of students who scored 80% or above on each examination; and
• the average score for all students who took the examination for each examination.

Approved K-8 Acceleration Exams

Grades K-8
Subjects Tested	A student in grades Kindergarten-8th grade must be accelerated one grade level if the student scores 80% or higher on each of the language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies CBE assessments for the grade level the student wishes to accelerate through. The student must be enrolled in HISD and have Counselor approval.
Language Arts
Mathematics
Science
Social Studies

 

Approved HISD non-World Language Grades 6-8 Exams:

 

Grades 6-8​
Subject​	Courses Offered​	Students who have had no prior instruction must be awarded credit for the applicable course if the student receives — ​ a score of 80% or higher on the CBE assessment, ​ a three or higher on an AP exam, ​or a scaled score of 50 or higher on a CLEP exam.​
Mathematics​	Algebra I​
Science​	Biology​
World Languages/Languages Other Than English (LOTE)​	Discussed in the World Language Section ​

 

Approved HISD non-World Language Grades 9-12 Exams:

 

Grades 9-12
Subject	Courses Offered	Students who have had no prior instruction must be awarded credit for the applicable course if the student receives — ​ a score of 80% or higher on the CBE assessment, ​ a three or higher on an AP exam, ​or a scaled score of 50 or higher on a CLEP exam.
English	English I, English II, English III, English IV
Mathematics	Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Precalculus
Science	Biology, Chemistry. Environmental Systems, Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC), Physics
Social Studies	Economics*, Government*, US History, World Geography, World History
World Languages/Languages Other Than English (LOTE)	Discussed in the World Language Section of PPT

 

Approved HISD World Language Exams:

Add content from this file –   Avant Exam Options_World Languages.docx

1. I am not sure on how the best way to display this information, but we need the hyperlinks too. Maybe 3 sections:

1. 1. 1. ELEMENTARY—Proficiency Exam for Dual Language Students only (5th grade)

• Students in 5th grade completing an elementary Dual Language Immersion program may take a proficiency exam during the 4th testing window to obtain one World Language credit for level I for the upcoming year acceleration, provided they meet all the requirements as stated in 19 TAC §74.12(5)(F). 

1. 1. 2. ELEMENTARY—Not for graduation credit
      3. SECONDARY—Credit by Exam

For HISD Employees:

• CBE #4 Test Administration Open Lab Flyer.pdf
• 2024-25 Student Assessment PD Calendar
• CBE Administration Training / Training Recording
• CBE Canvas course

CBE Digital Brochure

Avant Sample Tests

TTU K-12 Study Guides

TTU K-12 Student Resources

TTU K-12 Handbook

Proctorio Proctor Information

Proctorio Student Guide

Proctorio Troubleshooting Guide

2025 Proctor Manual: https://utexas.app.box.com/v/uths-proctor-manual 

Proctorio FAQ

Proctorio How to Access the Live Chat 24/7

Proctorio Troubleshooting Guide

K-12 Credit by Exam 

CBE Avaliable Exams

CBE Study Guides

TEA Page

• TEC, §28.023
• TAC, §74.24, Credit by Examination  

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• CBE Frequently Asked Questions

  CBE Assessment Calendar