1. Parent Academy September 17, 2016
Third Grade Promotion, Good Cause and Acceleration
Parent Academy
September 17, 2016
Welcome to this presentation about third grade promotion, Good Cause exemptions, and acceleration options.

2. Third Grade Promotion
State statute requires third graders to receive a score of level 2 or higher on Florida State Assessment in Reading in order to be promoted to fourth grade.
Good Cause exemptions provide additional avenues for promotion
Third grade has been identified as a pivotal point in a student’s educational journey. Students who are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade face increased challenges as they enter fourth grade, where the emphasis shifts from learning to read to reading to learn. The legislature felt this is such a key point in a child’s academic development that they passed a law specifying that students must score at least a level 2 on the state reading assessment in order to be promoted to fourth grade. FSA scores range from one to five, with three being designated as proficient.

3. A1. ELL- A Limited English proficient student who has had less than 2 years of instruction in an English for Speakers of Other Languages program based on the date entered a United States school (DEUSS) and the ELL committee recommends promotion. ELL committee meeting required.
A2. ESE – A student with a disability, whose Individual Education Plan (IEP) indicates that participation in statewide assessment is not appropriate, consistent with the State Board of Education rule. The IEP Team must make a recommendation to the principal about the promotion/retention.
A3. Alternative standardized reading assessment – Score on alternative standardized assessment demonstrates that the student is
reading on grade level or the equivalent of proficiency (50th percentile or higher) on MAP, iReady, STAR Enterprise, or Iowa. The review of
this evidence should lead to the conclusion that the student’s reading achievement is higher than his/her FSA ELA score indicates.  
A4. Portfolio - Documented evidence, selected by the teacher, demonstrates that the student is performing at least at Level 2 on the statewide, standardized English Language Arts assessment. Evidence requirements are prescribed by DOE, and include passage length and multiple choice question format.
A5. ESE Prior Retention – A student with a disability has participated in FSA ELA and has IEP or 504 Plan. Student has received intensive instruction in reading or ELA for more than two years and was previously retained in kindergarten, first, second or third grade.
A6. Prior Retention - The student has received intensive reading intervention for two or more years and has been retained for a total of two years in kindergarten, first, second, or third grade. A student may not be retained more than once in grade 3.
A7. Prior Retention - The student has received intensive remediation in reading or ELA for two or more years but still demonstrates a deficiency in reading and has been retained for a total of two years in kindergarten, first, second, or third grade. Intensive instruction must include an altered instructional day that includes specialized diagnostic information and specific reading strategies.
Seven good cause exemptions are included in the statute. These exemptions provide a safeguard for students in specific situations for whom retention is not the best way to address a reading deficiency. Students who are still acquiring the English language or whose disability makes participation in FSA inappropriate are protected by these exemptions, as are students who have already been retained twice and are receiving intense remediation in reading.

4. Approved Alternative Assessments
The following assessments may be used for a Good Cause exemption when administered after the 3rd grade FSA.
I-Ready Diagnostic
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP)
STAR Enterprise
Iowa (being phased out in OCPS), SAT10 and Terranova (not administered in OCPS)
Retained 3rd graders who score at or above the 50th percentile on an approved alternative assessment are eligible for midyear promotion.
In August of this year, the Florida Department of Education approved several new alternative assessments that may be used to demonstrate a student’s reading proficiency and qualify that student for a Good Cause exemption. I-Ready, Measures of Academic Progress, and STAR Enterprise may now be used for this purpose, in addition to the IOWA Test of Basic Skills, SAT-10, and Terranova. While those last three assessments are not currently administered in OCPS, students who transfer into an OCPS school may have taken one of those assessments in another district or state.

5. Grade 2 Acceleration
A second grade student may not be considered for whole year promotion to grade 4
A second grade student may be considered for a whole year promotion at the beginning of the year and promoted to grade 3
As a result of the state statute regarding third grade promotions, acceleration options are impacted. A second grade student who meets the criteria for acceleration during the first quarter of second grade may be accelerated to third grade. The student would then take the third grade FSA in reading and become eligible for promotion to fourth grade if he or she received a score of 2 or higher. A second grade student may not, however, be promoted to fourth grade, even if the acceleration discussion takes place at the end of second grade.

6. Grade 3 Acceleration
A third grade student may not participate in subject matter acceleration for ELA due to the state reading assessment requirement
A third grade student may participate in any other subject matter acceleration
Third grade students may be accelerated in any content area for which they meet the criteria except ELA. Teachers differentiate to meet the needs of third grade students who are reading above grade level, providing those students with lessons and materials that are aligned to the student’s instructional level.

7. Embedded Assignments for Portfolio
Required assignments given at the conclusion of most third grade Measurement Topic Plans (MTPs)
Assignments align with standards taught in MTP
Assignments meet the requirements of the state rule for portfolio
All third graders complete the 15 required assignments
Third grade students will complete a required assignment after most Measurement Topic Plans (MTPs), which are units of study. The assignment, which focuses on the standards taught in the unit, will count as a classwork grade and meet the requirements for inclusion in a portfolio.

8. During the course of the year, students will read 31 passages and respond to 70 questions
Because the assignments have been spread out over the course of the year, there are a limited number of passages and questions in each assignment. Using the assignments to create a portfolio means fewer passages and questions for students.

9. Additional Opportunities
Students who have not gathered sufficient evidence for a full portfolio through the required assignments will have additional opportunities available before the end of the school year.
The state requires three pieces of evidence for each of 22 standards that are assessed on the third grade FSA in reading. Any third grade student who has not successfully completed the assignments will be provided with additional opportunities to demonstrate proficiency in the specific standard(s) needed.

10. Advantages
Assignments align with MTP and count for a grade for all third grade students
For those students who do not score level 2 or higher on FSA, portfolio requirements can be met by end of school year
Will alleviate many concerns about promotion
Assignments reduced to the minimum number of questions required to provide the necessary evidence
There are many advantages to having required assignments for third grade students. This will preclude the need for most students to complete portfolio assessments. Only those students who are not successful on the assignments and do not receive a score of level 2 or higher on the FSA in reading will need to complete portfolio assessments.

11. Advantages
Assignments align with the standards taught in the MTP and are distributed over the course of the entire school year
Setting for these assignments will be the same as for independent classwork
Supports the classroom teacher since the statute indicates the teacher must create the portfolio
Teachers will be able to use the assignments to determine if students have mastered specific standards and provide additional instruction where needed. The assignments also will meet the needs of parents who request the teacher collect evidence from classwork for the third grade portfolio.

12. Advantages
Provides a safety net for students who may have test anxiety or be unexpectedly absent during the testing window
Amount of time spent on these assignments will be less than 30 minutes per MTP in most cases
Assignments will assist the teacher in monitoring student mastery of standards so instructional adjustments can be made
Students whose score on FSA may not be a true indication of their reading proficiency will have a safety net that can be used to meet the requirements for a Good Cause exemption. Because the assignments are streamlined, more time is available for instruction.

13. Questions? Promotion, Good Cause Exemptions, and Acceleration
Nancy Lewis, Director, Academic and Guidance Services
Third Grade Portfolio
Meg Bowen, Director, Elementary Curriculum and Instruction