2023-2024 Semester Exam Exemption Requirements

Semester exam exemptions will be offered during the fall and spring semesters for the 2023–2024 school year. Below are the required semester exemption requirements.

In Katy ISD, Semester Exam Exemptions are offered as attendance and behavior incentives for students. Exemptions are determined by course.

To qualify for an exam exemption on a course, a student must meet the following criteria per semester, per course:

1. An average of 80 or higher for the semester;
2. No more than FIVE (5) non-school related absences (see note below);
3. No more than TEN (10) tardies;
4. No N in conduct for the course and no U in conduct for any class;
5. No ISS, OSS, OAC/DAEP Placement, or JJAEP Placement;
6. No outstanding fees or fines;
7. Must have been enrolled in the course by the 10th day of instruction; and
8. Meet campus-specific requirements for exemption submission deadlines and verification procedures for securing exemptions.

Available Exemptions by Grade Level:

Please note: The following absence codes do NOT count towards the five (5) allowable excused & unexcused absences:

• P: Present but not in class
• S: School-sponsored curricular and extracurricular activity that is not UIL related
• V: UIL and other competitive activities

Attendance Incentive Exemption Request

• For Freshman, Sophomores, & Juniors - If you have met all exemption criteria (grades and discipline) and have no more than 3 absences in any class this semester, you qualify for an additional exemption.
• For Seniors - If you have no more than 3 absences in any class this semester and meet discipline criteria, the grade criteria move to a 70 or higher for the semester for you to be exempt from the semester exam.

SPRING Attendance Incentive Exemption Request

• You qualify for an additional exemption if you have met all exemption criteria (grades and discipline) and have no more than 3 absences in any class this semester. For juniors, this might include the opportunity to be exempt from the same course in the fall if you qualify for the additional exemption for both semesters.

Final Exam Exemption Clarifications:

• Students may not be exempt from the same course final for the fall and spring semesters except for seniors.
• Advanced Placement (AP) Exams:
  
  • Students enrolled in an AP course who successfully sit for the AP exam for that course may elect to attempt the final exam in the Spring semester.
  • The final exam exemption for an AP exam does not count toward the maximum number of exemptions for that student’s grade level.
• HCC Dual Credit & College Prep courses CANNOT be exempted.
• Jordan High School students may earn additional exemptions by meeting specific attendance incentive criteria. Please see your Class Canvas page for more details.

IMPORTANT SENIOR INFORMATION (Class of 2024):

Seniors are required to attend school through Friday, May 10, 2024. Excused and non-excused absences accrued through Friday, May 10, 2024, will count toward the maximum of five (5) absences or less to exempt a final exam. Seniors ineligible for final exam exemptions may take their final exams beginning Monday, May 13, 2024. Campuses will communicate their specific senior final exam schedule that begins on Monday, May 13, through 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 15, 2024.

Beginning on Monday, May 13th, campuses will host a Class of 2024 graduation ceremony meeting and other senior events daily. Campuses will communicate specific schedules of events during the fall semester.

Students are encouraged to verify semester exam exemption eligibility by continually monitoring their semester average(s), attendance/tardies, conduct grade(s), and behavior consequences on Home Access Center (HAC).

Spring Semester Exam Exemption Process and Timeline 

GRADES 9-11

1. January 2nd-May 8th - Teachers, coaches, librarians, textbook clerks, and grade-level offices work with students to clear all fines, fees and holds.
2. May 8th - Submit a list of all fines, fees, and holds to the appropriate grade-level office. The list must include the student's first and last name, student ID number, amount/item owed, and with whom the student must clear the hold.
3. May 10th at 7:00 a.m.- May 15th at 11:59 p.m. - The Exam Exemption Request tile will be opened on MyKaty for 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students to request exemptions. Students receive an email from the Tile listing their submitted requests.
4. May 10th—May 15th — Grade-level offices will run a daily report from the Exam Exemption Request tile listing the requested exemptions and deny any with fines, fees, and/or holds. Students who are denied will receive an email from the Tile explaining why and how to solve the issue.
5. May 10th—May 15th — Teachers will run a daily report from the Exam Exemption Request tile listing their students who have requested an exemption. Teachers must approve all exemptions based on current attendance and grade eligibility and deny any who do not qualify. Students who are denied will receive an email from the Exam Exemption Request tile notifying them they are not eligible.