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Miami-Dade Schools Axe Midterm & Final Exams

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – There's some good news for Miami-Dade County students who don't want to take midterms or final exams, they no longer have to.

According to CBS4 News partner The Miami Herald, school district officials decided in October to make midterm and final exams optional for students in grades 6 through 12 in order to ease the burden on students.

Students aren't completely off the hook. They still have to take state, federal and local assessment tests and teachers can give midterms and finals if they choose.

Millie Fornell, Miami-Dade's associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction told the Herald the testing schedule gets crowded, especially at the end of the year. It will get even worse as Florida moves to end-of-course exams. Last year, students began taking Algebra I. In 2012 students will begin taking geometry and biology exams.

Karen Aronowitz, president of the United Teachers of Dade, said the district's change takes away from the value of the work being done by teachers. Teachers typically design the midterm or final for their class, so the exam matches what has been taught up until that point. Other tests that will remain obligatory are more standardized, Aronowitz said.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report.)

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