Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 160-4-2-.11 - Promotion, Placement, and Retention
(1)
DEFINITIONS.
(a)
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 Governor's Office of Student Achievement, to meet grade-level
standards in the shortest possible time.
(b)
Additional instruction -
academic instruction beyond regularly scheduled academic classes that is
designed to bring students not performing on grade level, as defined by the
Governor's Office of Student Achievement, to grade level performance. It may
include more instructional time allocated during the school day, instruction
before and after the school day, Saturday instruction, and/or
summer/inter-session instruction.
(c)
Differentiated instruction -
instructional strategies designed to meet individual student learning
needs.
(d)
Grade level
- standard of performance, as defined by the Governor's Office of
Student Achievement, on a state-adopted assessment.
(e)
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.
(f)
Placement committee
- thecommittee established by the
local school principal or designee to make placement decisions concerning a
student who does not achieve proficiency on the state-adopted assessment. This
committee shall be comprised of the principal or designee, the student's parent
or guardian, and the teacher(s) in the content area(s) in which the student did
not achieve grade level on the state-adopted assessment.
(g)
Promotion
-
theassignment of a student to a higher grade level based on the
student's achievement of established criteria in the current grade.
(h)
Retention
- the
re-assignment of a student to the current grade level during the next school
year.
(2)
REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADES 1-8.
(a)
By July 1, 2003, each local board of education shall develop, adopt, and
implement policy, in accordance with O.C.G.A. §
20-2-282 through
20-2-285, that bases the placement
or promotion of a student into a grade, class, or program on an assessment of
the academic achievement of the student and a determination of the education
setting in which the student is most likely to receive instruction and other
services needed in order to succeed and progress to the next higher level of
academic achievement. Further, the policy shall specify how the state-adopted
assessment administered in all grades 1-8, in accordance with O.C.G.A. §
20-2-281, will be weighted or
otherwise utilized by the school principal or designee in determining:
1. The overall academic achievement of
students;
2. An appropriate plan of
accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction for students who do not
achieve grade level; and
3.
Placement (with specific recommendations), promotion, or retention of a
student.
(b) Students
shall be tested in accordance with requirements specified in Rule
160-3-1-.07 Testing Programs -
Student Assessment.
(c) The local
board of education shall annually notify parents or guardians that placement or
promotion of a student into a grade, class, or program will be based on the
academic achievement of the student on criterion-referenced assessments and
criteria established by the local board of education.
(3)
REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADES 3, 5, AND
8.
(a) Promotion of a student shall be
determined as follows.
1. No third grade
student shall be promoted to the fourth grade if the student does not achieve
grade level on the state-adopted assessment in reading and meet promotion
standards and criteria established by the local board of education for the
school that the student attends.
2.
No fifth grade student shall be promoted to the sixth grade if the student does
not achieve grade level on the state-adopted assessments in reading and
mathematics and meet promotion standards and criteria established by the local
board of education for the school that the student attends.
3. No eighth grade student shall be promoted
to the ninth grade if the student does not achieve grade level on the
state-adopted assessments in reading and mathematics and meet promotion
standards and criteria established by the local board of education for the
school that the student attends.
4.
Requirements in this section shall apply to students in the following grade
levels:
(i) The third grade beginning with
the 2003-2004 school year.
(ii) The
fifth grade beginning with the 2004-2005 school year.
(iii) The eighth grade beginning with the
2005-2006 school year.
5. The school principal or designee may
retain a student who performs satisfactorily on the state-adopted assessment
but who does not meet promotion standards and criteria established by the local
board of education.
(b)
When a student does not perform at grade level in grades 3, 5, or 8 on the
state-adopted assessment(s) specified in section (a) above, then the following
shall occur:
1. Within ten calendar days,
excluding weekends and holidays, of receipt of the state-adopted assessment
individual student scores, the school principal or designee shall notify in
writing by first-class mail the parent or guardian of the student regarding the
following:
(i) The student's
below-grade-level performance on the state-adopted assessment(s);
(ii) The specific retest(s) to be given the
student and testing date(s);
(iii)
The opportunity for accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction
based on the student's performance on the state-adopted assessment;
and
(iv) The possibility that the
student might be retained at the same grade level for the next school
year.
2. The student
shall be given an opportunity for accelerated, differentiated, or additional
instruction in the applicable subject(s) prior to the retesting opportunity;
and
3. The student shall be
retested with appropriate section(s) of the state-adopted assessment(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 local board of
education.
(c) When a
student does not perform at grade level on the state-adopted assessment(s) in
grades 3, 5, and 8, and also does not perform at grade level on a second
opportunity to take the assessment, then the following shall occur:
1. The school principal or designee shall
retain the student for the next school year except as otherwise provided for in
this rule.
2. The school principal
or designee shall notify in writing by first-class mail the parent or guardian
of the student and the teacher(s) regarding the decision to retain the student.
(i) The notice shall describe the option of
the parent or guardian or teacher to appeal the decision to retain the
student;
(ii) The notice shall
describe the composition and functions of the placement committee; it may
describe the option of the parent or guardian, 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 if
provided for in local board policy; and
(iii) The notice shall include the
requirement that the decision to promote the student must be the unanimous
decision of the placement committee comprised of the parent or guardian,
teacher(s), and principal or designee.
3. If the parent or guardian or teacher(s)
appeals the decision to retain the student, then the school principal or
designee shall establish a placement committee to consider the appeal.
(i) The placement committee shall be
comprised of the principal or designee, the student's parent or guardian, and
the teacher(s) of the subject(s) of the state-adopted assessment or the
alternative assessment instrument on which the student failed to perform at
grade level.
(ii) The principal or
designee shall notify in writing by first-class mail the parent or guardian and
teacher(s) of the time and place for convening the placement
committee.
(iii) The placement
committee shall review the overall academic achievement of the student in light
of the performance on the state-adopted assessment or the alternative
assessment instrument and promotion standards and criteria established by the
local board of education for the school that the student attends, and make a
determination to promote or retain.
(iv) The decision to promote must be the
unanimous decision of the placement committee and must determine that if
promoted and given accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction
during the next year, the student is likely to perform at grade level by the
conclusion of the school year.
(v)
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.
(vi)
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.
4. A plan for
accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction must be developed for
each student who does not achieve grade level performance in grades 3, 5, or 8
on the state-adopted assessment(s) specified in section (a) above whether the
student is retained, placed, or promoted for the subsequent year.
5. A student who is absent or otherwise
unable to take the state-adopted assessment in reading and/or mathematics on
the first administration or its designated make-up day(s) shall take the
state-adopted assessment in reading and/or mathematics on the second
administration day(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 local board of education. Placement or promotion of these
students shall follow the same procedures as students who do not achieve grade
level on the first administration of the assessment.
6. A student's failure to take the
state-adopted assessment 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 local board of education shall result in the student
being retained. The option of the parent or guardian or teacher(s) to appeal
the decision to retain the student shall follow the procedure set forth in this
rule.
7. For students receiving
special education or related services, the Individualized Education Plan
Committee shall serve as the placement committee.
8. The decision of the placement committee
may be appealed only as provided for by the local board of education.
(4)
REQUIREMENTS
FOR GRADES 9-12.
(a) Local boards of
education shall develop and adopt policies and procedures for the promotion and
retention of students in grades 9 through 12.
Notes
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