As many students and teachers can attest to, there have been many recent changes in standardized testing that have hit Brevard High School. In the 2009-2010 school year, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction cut the chemistry and physics End-of-Course (EOC) exams. The explanation provided by DPI on its web site, NCpublicschools.org states, "Senate Bill 202/S.L.2009-451 eliminated funding for most state-administered tests not currently required by federal law or as a condition of federal grants. As a response to the legislation, the North Carolina Testing Program immediately suspended all activities related to the administration of these tests and their alternates." Junior Andrew Banks said "I liked it [not having an exam]. I didn't have to come in to take the [teacher made] exam because I was exempt."

In the 2010-2011 school year, the EOC geometry exam was cut, "to facilitate school and student transition to the new mathematics curriculum." According to NCpublicschools.org, new tests which support the updated curriculum are expected for the 2012-2013 school year . BHS math teacher Jane Fuller said of the change "it allows you to have time for more creativity, more time for explaining relevancy and applications. In life, math never comes in the form of multiple choice. It is best when it is applied; the students understand it more It takes all the pressure off of the students and the teachers." 

Junior Paulina Jones really liked the fact that there was no exam at the end of the course. "It was definitely more free about what we could learn instead of following a tight schedule," she said.

Before the 2011-2012 school year, the Algebra II, Civics and Economics, physical science and U.S. History exams were eliminated, for the same reasons that the chemistry EOC was eliminated. Substitute history teacher Terry Lewis, who taught history at Brevard High School before becoming a substitute, thinks that not having EOCs is definitely positive for students. "You get to relax a little more, do extra things while still covering the curriculum. We can do a lot more hands-on things without the stress, we can do a lot more activities in the library. I am not a big advocate for state or federal testing." 

While there may be some concerns about students' motivation when there is no state-mandated exam, Fuller isn't concerned. "There are people who feel like students don't take it seriously, but I don't have that problem. If you had a situation where people weren't covering the curriculum then it would be an issue," she said.

Banks didn't think it was a problem either. "You still have to work to get exempt from the exam. And I still really enjoyed the class," he said.