BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE
RULE
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Promotion, Placement, and Retention Rule for Grades K-12 (See Form IKE-1, IKE-2, IKE-3) |
IKE | 1/10/07 |
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The Cobb County School District (District) has established criteria to address the requirements of the Georgia Academic Promotion, Placement, and Retention Policy (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-282, 283, 284, and 285). The regulations of this policy will be applied for students in Grades K-12 to help assure that basic promotion, placement, and retention criteria will be consistently addressed. RULE: A. DEFINITIONS: 1. Accelerated Instruction: Challenging instructional activities that are intensely focused on student academic deficiencies in reading and/or mathematics. This accelerated instruction is designed to enable a student who has not achieved grade level, as defined by the Georgia Office of Student Achievement, to meet grade-level standards in the shortest time possible. 2. Additional Instruction: Academic instruction beyond regularly scheduled academic classes that are designed to bring students not performing on grade level, as defined by the Georgia Office of Student Achievement, to grade level performance. It may include more instructional time allocated during the school day, instruction before of after the school day, Saturday instruction, and/or summer/inter- session instruction. 3. Differentiated Instruction: Instructional strategies designed to meet individual student learning needs. 4. Grade Level: Standard of performance, as defined by the Office of Student Achievement, on a Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT). 5. Placement: The assignment of a student to a specific grade level based on the determination that such placement will most likely provide the student with instruction and other services needed to succeed and progress to the next higher level of academic achievement. 6. Placement Committee: The committee established by the Principal or designee to make placement decisions concerning a student who does not meet expectations on the CRCT. 7. Promotion: The assignment of a student to a higher grade level based on the student’s achievement of established criteria in the current grade. 8. Retention: The re-assignment of a student to his/her current grade level during the next school year.
B. PROMOTION, PLACEMENT, AND RETENTION REQUIREMENTS FOR KINDERGARTEN: 1. State rules and regulations, as well as District requirements, will be followed regarding assessment procedures and criteria used to determine the readiness of a Kindergarten student for first grade. Multiple, state approved, sources of data will be used to identify each student’s strengths and needs, determine the appropriate placement for each student, and to assist with the design of appropriate instructional programs and teaching methods. 2. State Board of Education and District regulations will be followed when assessing the readiness of students not enrolled in the District’s Kindergarten programs but wish to enroll in one of the District’s first grade programs. Social-emotional or physical development should not be used as the sole criteria for retention or placement. 3. Placement decisions will be made on an individual basis. If a student is retained in Kindergarten, written documentation of evidence supporting the decision will be filed in the student’s permanent record. 4. Every effort should be made to consult with the child’s parent(s)/guardian(s) about the placement; however, the Principal will have the final authority for placement decisions. The student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified of the final placement decision. 5. Students who spend a second year in Kindergarten will be provided accelerated, differentiated and/or additional instruction. No student will be retained in Kindergarten more than once.
C. PROMOTION, PLACEMENT, AND RETENTION REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADES 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7: 1. The Principal or designee shall implement a process to: a. Determine whether each student shall be retained or placed based on a review of the overall academic achievement; b. Develop an accelerated, differentiated, and/or additional instructional plan for each student who does not achieve grade level; c. Develop a plan of continuous assessment during the subsequent school year in order to monitor the student’s academic progress. 2. Students shall be tested in accordance with requirements specified in State Board Rule 160-3-1-.07 Testing Programs – Student Assessment. 3. The Principal or designee shall annually notify parent(s)/guardian(s) that promotion, placement, or retention of a student into a grade, class, or program will be based on the student’s academic achievement. 4. Placement decisions will be made on an individual basis. If a student is retained, written documentation of evidence supporting the decision will be filed in the student’s permanent record. 5. If placement or retention is recommended, the Principal or designee will consult with the child’s parent(s)/guardian(s). The Principal will have the final authority regarding placement and retention decisions. The student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) will be notified of the final decision. 6. Students who spend a second year in any grade will be provided accelerated, differentiated and/or additional instruction.
D. PROMOTION, PLACEMENT, AND RETENTION REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADES 3, 5, AND 8: 1. Promotion of a student shall be determined as follows: a. No third grade student shall be promoted to the fourth grade if he/she does not achieve grade level on the CRCT in reading and meet promotion standards and criteria established by the District. b. No fifth grade student shall be promoted to the sixth grade if he/she does not achieve grade level on the CRCT in reading and the CRCT in mathematics and meet promotion standards and criteria established by the District. c. No eighth grade student shall be promoted to the ninth grade if he/she does not achieve grade level on the CRCT in reading and the CRCT in mathematics and meet promotion standards and criteria established by the District. d. The Principal or designee may retain a student who performs satisfactorily on the CRCT, but does not meet local promotion standards and criteria. 2. When a student does not perform at grade level in grades 3, 5, or 8 on the CRCT(s) as specified in Section D.1 above, the following should occur: a. Within ten workdays of receipt of the CRCT individual scores, the Principal or designee shall notify in writing, by first-class mail, the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student regarding the following: (1) The student’s below-grade-level performance on the CRCT reading and/or mathematics section(s). (2) The specific retest(s) to be given to the student and the testing date(s). (3) The opportunity for accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction based on the student’s performance on the CRCT(s). (4) The possibility that the student might be retained at the same grade level for the next school year. b. The student shall be given an opportunity for accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction in the applicable subject(s) prior to the retesting opportunity. c. The student shall be retested with the appropriate section(s) of the CRCT or an alternative assessment instrument that is appropriate for the student’s grade level as provided for by the State Board of Education and the District. 3. When a student does not perform at grade level on the CRCT in grades 3, 5, and 8, and also does not perform at grade level on a second opportunity to take the assessment, the following shall occur: a. The Principal or designee shall retain the student for the next school year except as otherwise provided for in this Rule. b. Within ten workdays of receipt of the CRCT retest, the Principal or designee shall notify in writing, by first-class mail, the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the student and the teacher(s) regarding the decision to retain the student. The notice shall: (1) Describe the option of the parent(s)/guardian(s)/teacher(s) to appeal the decision to retain the student; (2) Describe the composition and functions of the placement committee; (3) Describe the option of the parent(s)/guardian(s), teacher(s), or Principal to invite individuals who can provide information or facilitate understanding of the issues to be discussed to attend the placement committee meeting; and (4) Include the requirement that the decision to promote or place the student must be the unanimous decision of the placement committee comprised of the parent(s)/guardian(s), teacher(s), and Principal or designee.
c. If the parent(s)/guardian(s) or teacher(s)
appeals the decision to retain the (1) The placement committee shall be comprised of the Principal or designee, the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s), and the teacher(s) of the subject(s) of the CRCT or the alternative assessment instrument on which the student failed to perform at grade level. In the event the student's teacher(s) no longer works at the same school, the following guidelines should be followed for teacher
representation on the placement committee: (2) The Principal or designee shall notify in writing, by first-class mail, the parent(s)/guardian(s) and teacher(s) of the time and place for convening the placement committee. (3) The placement committee shall review the overall academic achievement of the student in light of the performance on the CRCT or the alternative assessment instrument and promotion standards and criteria established by the District, and make a determination to place the student into the next appropriate grade or retain the student. (4) The decision to place the student must be the unanimous decision of the placement committee and must determine that if placed and given accelerated, differentiated, and/or additional instruction during the next year, the student is likely to perform at grade level by the conclusion of the school year. If the placement committee cannot reach a unanimous decision to place the student, he/she shall be retained in their current grade level for the subsequent school year. (5) The placement committee shall prescribe such additional assessments as may be appropriate in addition to assessments administered to other students at the grade level during the year. (6) The placement committee shall provide for a plan of continuous assessment during the subsequent school year in order to monitor the progress of the student. (7) The decision of the placement committee is final. d. A plan for accelerated, differentiated, and/or additional instruction must be developed for each student who does not achieve grade level performance in grades 3, 5, or 8 on the CRCT(s) specified in section D.1. above whether the student is retained, placed, or promoted for the subsequent year. e. A student who is absent or otherwise unable to take the CRCT in reading and/or mathematics on the first administration or its designated make-up day(s) shall take the CRCT in reading and/or mathematics on the second administration day(s) or an alternative assessment that is appropriate for the student’s grade level as provided for by the State Board of Education and the District. Promotion or placement of these students shall follow the same procedures as students who do not achieve grade level on the first administration of the assessment. f. A student’s failure to take the CRCT in grades 3, 5, and 8 in reading and/or mathematics on any of the designated testing date(s) or an alternative assessment instrument that is appropriate for the student’s grade level as provided for by the State Board of Education and the District shall result in the student being retained. The option of the parent(s)/guardian(s) or teacher(s) to appeal the decision to retain the student shall follow the procedure set forth in this Rule. g. For students receiving special education or related services, the Individual Education Program (IEP) Team shall serve on the placement committee.
E. RETENTION LIMITATIONS FOR GRADES K-8: No student will be retained more than once in each of the following grade categories:
Kindergarten F. RETENTION OF A STUDENT WHO HAS EARNED PROMOTION IN GRADES 6-8: Georgia State Board of Education rules require schools to document the educational reasons for retaining a 6th, 7th or 8th grader who has passing grades. Accordingly, written documentation shall be maintained in the student’s permanent record and shall include the following state-mandated information: a. A parent/guardian written statement outlining the reasons for requesting the retention and/or a school-initiated written request with accompanying written approval of the request by the parent/guardian; b. Statement from two professional sources from outside the student’s school justifying the retention for educational reasons; and c. Written approval of the retention request and justification of the retention for educational reasons by the Principal, the Superintendent and two teachers, other than
an athletic coach, who have taught the student. G. LOCAL PROMOTION INDICATORS: All or part of the following indicators shall be considered: 1. Kindergarten: a. Readiness level as established by the results of the state assessment. b. Readiness level as indicated on the student report card. c. Teacher recommendation for promotion. 2. Grades 1 – 5: a. Readiness level as established by the results of the appropriate CRCT in the areas of reading and/or mathematics. b. Readiness level as indicated on the student report card. c. Teacher recommendation for promotion. 3. Grades 6 – 8: Retention of students should be made at the lowest level:
a. Number of failing grades (failing 3 or more
subjects for the year).
g. Age and maturity of student. 4. Secondary:
Units of Credit required for promotion to: reading portions of the 8th grade CRCT (state rule 160-4-2-.11) will be placed in skills-building math and/or reading classes in the 9th grade.
Reclassified an
Administrative Rule: 9/1/04 |