About: Overview: Who takes the HSAs?
All students who entered 9th grade in or after 2005 are required to take and pass the HSAs to receive a Maryland High School Diploma, including students in special education, English language learners (ELLs), and students with 504 plans. (Students who entered 9th grade in or before 2004 are required only to take the HSAs.)
Testing Students with Special Needs
All students with special needs—regardless of the test they take—are entitled to accommodations during instruction and testing. The accommodations your child needs are indicated in his or her Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Limited English Proficiency (LEP) plan. If you have a child with special needs and have questions about his or her program of study or participation on state tests, contact your child’s teacher or IEP team.
The Maryland State Board of Education is currently reviewing the 2007 HSA results to determine whether adjustments should be made to the HSA requirement or if additional alternative means of testing should be developed for students who have difficulty with traditional tests.
The Bridge Plan is for students failing to meet the passing score on any one HSA at least twice. Eligible students would have to meet additional local and state criteria such as minimum GPA, satisfactory attendance, passing grades in all HSA subjects, and participation in academic remediation. Students meeting the eligibility criteria would be permitted to complete an Academic Validation project that demonstrates the content and skills of each HSA they failed to pass.
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