Students in grades 3, 5, and 7 will be promoted in June, if they score Level 2 or higher on both the State English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics tests this year. For all students who score Level 1 on either the ELA or Math test (or both), there is an appeal process that provides for an automatic, mandatory review of student work.
Students with “standard promotion criteria” listed on page 9 of their IEP are subject to the 3rd, 5th, and 7th grade promotion criteria above. Students with “modified promotion criteria” on their IEP will be promoted on the basis of those modified criteria.
English Language Learners (ELLs) in an English language school system for fewer than two years are exempt from the promotion standards. ELLs enrolled in an English language school system for between two and three years will have their promotion decisions based on a comprehensive assessment of students’ class work, test results, and attendance. ELLs in an English language school system for three years or more are held to the promotion standards, with the exception of ELLs who have an approved extension of services for year four or five and ELLs who qualify for an extension of services for year four or five. Promotion decisions for ELLs with an extension of services and ELLs who qualify for an extension of services will be based on a comprehensive assessment of students’ class work, test results, and attendance.
All students who score Level 1 on either the ELA or math test (or both) will automatically have their work reviewed by their teachers using standard criteria. Teachers will create a portfolio for each student, which may include standard math work, leveled books from the classroom library or a standard reading passage, writing sample(s), and standards-based class work. Using standard criteria, teachers will indicate whether the student’s work is comparable to Level 2 and submit the portfolio to the principal for review.
The portfolio is then reviewed by the principal to confirm that the student’s portfolio shows evidence of comparable Level 2 work. If that criterion is met, the principal forwards the portfolio to the Community Superintendent for consideration. The Community Superintendent makes the final promotion decision.
Parents also may submit an appeal in writing to their principal at any time after they are notified in June that their child does not yet meet promotion standards.
A parent appeal will be considered by the Community Superintendent after summer school has been completed. Although summer school is recommended but not mandated, it provides the student who has not yet met the promotion criteria with a second chance to obtain Level 2 on the August test(s). Students may take the ELA and/or math tests in August even if they have not attended summer school. If one or both of the student’s test scores remain at Level 1, the student once again goes through an automatic, standard appeal process. If the student has not been promoted through the automatic appeal process in August, a parent appeal will be granted if the Community Superintendent determines, based on a review of a complete student portfolio, summer test score(s), summer school work, and any summer school teacher observations that the student’s performance is comparable to Level 2.