End of course (EOC) exams have always been a part of graduating high school. Biology, algebra 1, and geometry classes have EOCs to measure whether the students have learned material well enough to advance to a more rigorous math or science course. In order to earn their diploma, students must pass these exams.
Now every class must have an EOC, replacing the traditional final exams. These exams will count as 20 percent of the final grade for a course. The major difference between the two assessments is that the EOCs are written by the county; final exams vary depending on the teacher and class. For some, a final exam is the test. For others, it is a project or a portfolio.
It usually depends on the class. Most electives and even some common core classes complete a project for their final exam and not a written test. In program coordinator Kay Turley’s Pit Crew class, there has never been an exam or test at the end of the course. “For a class like Pit Crew, I don’t know how to measure the students’ progress on a test,” said Turley.
Turley added that she was initially confused when she heard an EOC was required for her class and that she does not know how her students will fare on the county written test.
Now that state law requires all classes to have approved EOC’s, the school had to cut courses like teacher’s assistant and study hall, which lack material needed to test students at the end of the year.
Senior Sarah Reussow was planning on becoming the assistant of AP world history teacher Jason Stano this year. “It’s annoying. They took away certain classes and now to help a teacher it can’t be during school,” said Reussow.
With these new rules in place, the school will have to adjust. This state ruling ties administration’s hands together, as they cannot change the law. “It’s a Florida state law. Not a rule made by us or OCPS,” said Principal Dr. Gabriel Berrio.
Come May and June are when the results of this new system will show. In most AP and common core classes the students will witness no change, taking familiar written assessments. In other classrooms, students might be shocked by what they see on their exam.