High Stakes Testing Policy Grades 4 and 8 Revised May 2008

Current Policy A student may not be promoted to the 5 th or 9 th grade until he or she has scored at or above the Basic achievement level on either the English Language Arts or Mathematics component on the 4 th or 8 th grade LEAP and at the Approaching Basic achievement level on the other.

Policy Exceptions Grades 4 and 8 LAA 1 and LAA 2 promotion decisions Waiver for LEP students Policy Override (A/U or M/U) Waiver for Extenuating Circumstances State-Granted Exception

Policy Exceptions, cont’d. Grade 4 only Appeal Grade 8 only AB/AB Waiver B/U Override

4 th Grade Progression Basic/Approaching Basic Below Basic/Approaching Basic Offered Retest Below B/AB Combination Retained in Grade 4 Promoted to Grade 5 Basic/Approaching Basic Offered Summer School

4 th Grade Progression Repeaters Below * Basic/Approaching Basic Offered Summer School Offered Retest Below* B/AB Combination Retained in Grade 4 Promoted to Grade 5 or Basic/Approaching Basic Promoted to Grade 5

AB/AB Waiver - 8 th grade After the summer retest, a student may be promoted to the 9 th grade, provided that He/she has scored at the Approaching Basic (AB) level on both the ELA and Math components of LEAP The student attended summer remediation. The student has retaken the component(s) (ELA or Math) of the summer retest on which he/she scored AB or below on the spring test.

B/U Override – 8 th grade The LEA may override State policy for 8 th grade students scoring at the Unsatisfactory level in ELA or math, if the student scores at the Basic level in the other, provided that the student scores AB or above in Science and Social Studies the student had overall 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale the student had minimum 92% attendance during school year the decision is in accordance with the local PPP, which may include a referral to the SBLC the student participated in both the spring and summer administrations of LEAP and attended the summer program offered by the district parental consent is granted

8 th Grade Retention Initial Students who do not meet the passing standard (B/AB) or the criteria for any Board- approved exceptions will repeat the 8 th grade or enter the Pre-GED/Skills Option Program (if eligible).

8 th Grade Retention Repeaters Students who have repeated the 8 th grade may be either –retained again in the 8 th grade –promoted to the 9 th grade…. –placed in Pre-GED….

Grade 8 – Initial MEETS THE STANDARD Basic/Approaching Basic DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD 9 th Grade Offered Summer Remediation and Retest *To be considered for the waiver or override, students must attend summer remediation and take the retest. All other criteria for the override (HSTP) must be met. B/AB OR AB/AB* Waiver Does not meet the standard or the criteria for the waiver or override Repeat 8 th Grade Pre- GED/Skills Option OR B/U* Override OR

Grade 8 – Repeaters MEETS THE STANDARD Basic/Approaching Basic DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD 9 th Grade Offered Summer Remediation and Retest* * If a student goes to 9 th grade with an Unsatisfactory in ELA or math, that student will be required to enroll in and pass a H.S. remedial course (in the Unsatisfactory component) before enrolling in H.S. ELA or math for Carnegie credit. U/U Repeat 8 th Grade Pre- GED/Skills Option OR AB/U *

LDE Contacts High Stakes & LEAP Remediation Other Policy Issues (225)