Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 160-4-2-.05 - Middle School Program Criteria
(1)
DEFINITIONS.
(a)
Academic classes -
instruction in English and language arts, reading, mathematics, science
and social studies. Instruction in foreign language may be included as academic
classes at the discretion of the local school system.
(b)
Academic team - an
interdisciplinary team of teachers of academic classes with common planning
time who share a common group of students.
(c)
Common group of students - a
group of students assigned to an academic team.
(d)
Common planning - planning
for instruction, student needs, and modifications of student groupings or
schedules during the students' instructional day by academic teams for a common
group of students. Such planning may include parent conferences and
participation in professional development.
(e)
Connections (exploratory) classes
- instruction beyond the academic classes that is designed to integrate
and apply the skills and concepts taught in the academic classes by reinforcing
critical reading, writing and thinking skills.
(f)
Remediation - academic
instruction designed to bring students not performing on grade level, as
defined by the Office of Student Achievement, to grade level
performance.
(2)
REQUIREMENTS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM
FUNDING.
(a) The middle school program
shall be contained in a school, staffed by a full-time principal, which houses
grades six, seven or eight, or any combination thereof.
(b) The middle school program shall have
academic teams.
(c) The middle
school program shall provide each academic team a minimum of 55 consecutive
minutes for common planning.
(d)
Each academic team shall provide its common group of students a minimum of five
hours of instruction in academic classes. Each academic team shall have control
over the academic instructional time and schedules of its common group of
students.
(e) A local system may
include foreign language instruction as an additional academic class or as a
Connections class. If foreign language is included as an academic class, class
sizes for academic classes must be followed. Foreign language taught as an
academic class must be taught by a teacher certified in the language.
(f) Beyond the minimum of five hours of
academic instruction, the local board of education shall have the authority to
schedule academic classes or Connections classes for the remainder of the
day.
(g) Except as provided below,
each middle school student shall complete at least one Connections class each
grading period or term.
1. Any student shall
be allowed to take an additional academic class instead of a Connections class
at the request of the parent or guardian, subject to availability.
2. Any student performing below grade level
may receive additional academic remediation instead of taking a Connections
class.
3. The local board shall
determine the number of instructional contact hours for each Connections
class.
(h) All
Connections class offerings shall be made from the list of state-funded
subjects in Rule
160-4-2-.20 List of State-Funded K-8
Subjects and 9-12 Courses for Students Entering Ninth Grade in 2008 and
Subsequent Years. All subjects or courses shall adhere to the requisite content
standards as delineated in the Georgia Performance Standards. In addition, all
subjects and courses offered as Connections classes shall conform to one of the
following areas:
1.
Agricultural/Environmental/Technical Education. Courses in agricultural and
environmental education are designed to develop awareness of the scope and
importance of agriculture, ecology, conservation, agribusiness, and the basic
use of the equipment and technologies related to agricultural and environmental
preservation. Courses in technology education are designed to develop awareness
of and gain practical experience with a variety of technologies essential to
modern society, such as robotics, electronics, aeronautics, computer-aided
design, and computer numerical control systems which are used in areas such as
aviation, construction, communications, engineering, and
manufacturing.
2. Business and
Information Technology Education. Courses in business and information
technology are designed to develop awareness of the importance and scope of
business in areas such as entrepreneurship, finance, international business,
management, and marketing. Students develop awareness of the rapidly evolving
fields of information technology, e-commerce, and computer skills necessary for
living, learning, and working in the modern era of electronic communication and
ready access to information.
3.
Communication/Performing/Visual Arts Education. Courses in fine arts and
exploratory foreign language are designed to enable students to learn the
basics of other languages and acquire an understanding of the cultures of other
countries. Courses in performing and visual arts develop student knowledge and
skill in drama, art, instrumental music, and vocal music.
4. Home/Careers/Community Education. Courses
in family and consumer sciences and career connections courses are designed to
develop knowledge and skills in areas such as nutrition, household safety,
consumer decision making, family responsibilities, and community
responsibilities and service. Career connections courses develop an awareness
of broad career fields, learning interests and aptitudes related to educational
and career alternatives, and build understanding of the academic prerequisites
for postsecondary education and future careers.
5. Physical/Health Education. Courses in
physical and health education are designed to provide students with the
opportunity to learn the information and skills necessary to be active and
healthy now and for their entire lives. Students also learn cooperation and
teamwork skills that can be applied in family, school, work, and community
situations.
(i)
Connections classes shall count toward promotion requirements.
(j) Pass-fail grades are prohibited in
academic classes and Connections classes.
Notes
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