Parents Need To Know About… HB 656

1. Parents Need To Know About… HB 656 Georgia Academic Placement and Promotion Law Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

2. What is HB 656? • Passed by the Georgia General Assembly in 2001 as part of the A+ Education Reform act of 2000 • Establishes rules that all public school districts must follow regarding promotion of students (Section 14 of HB 656) Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

3. What is HB 656? • Mandates rules regarding academic promotion that apply to students in grades 3, 5 and 8 • Impacts the content areas of reading and mathematics • Requires that the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) will be used primarily to determine promotion Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

4. When Does HB 656 Start? • 3rd graders must pass the reading section of the CRCT in spring 2004 to be promoted to grade 4. • 5th graders must pass the reading and math sections in spring 2005 to be promoted to grade 6. • 8th graders must pass reading and math to go to grade 9 in spring 2006. Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

5. What is the school’s role? • Conduct an analysis and interpretation of existing test data for each student to determine strengths and weaknesses • Examine classroom work of each student and compare it to test data to look for patterns in achievement Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

6. What is the school’s role? • Offer PTAs and other forums to discuss the school’s instructional program • Call and, or send notices to parents inviting them to discuss academic progress with teachers • Provide support programs during the school day and beyond the school day for additional academic assistance • ………………………………. Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

7. What is the school’s role? • Develop individualized instructional plans for students who need greater assistance with academic development (fall 2004) • Plan meetings with parents to discuss instructional support plans to improve achievement and provide suggestions to parents on how to help at home Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

8. What is the parent’s role? • Create an environment at home that contributes to success at school • Ensure that your child attends school regularly and on time • Attend conferences about your child’s progress or communicate with teachers by phone, notes or e-mail Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

9. What is the parent’s role? • Communicate first with teachers regarding concerns or problems • Ask for updates on your child’s growth socially, emotionally and academically if long periods of time have elapsed since communicating with the school • Expose your child to opportunities beyond school that will contribute to academic success and READ, READ !! Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

10. What happens if the child doesn’t pass the CRCT? • The law requires schools to plan/revise an individualized program that will accelerate, differentiate and, or provide additional instruction to help bring the student to grade level • A second CRCT will be given during summer school. Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

11. What happens if the child doesn’t pass the CRCT? • The law states that if the second CRCT is failed, … “the principal or the principal’s designee shall retain the student for the next school year” • A letter is directed to the parents regarding the child’s inability to pass the second CRCT that includes a description of the optional appeal process that a parent, guardian or teacher may pursue Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

12. What happens if the child doesn’t pass the CRCT? • If the appeal process is pursued, then a Placement Committee meeting is held to discuss and compare the failure on the CRCT to the child’s overall academic achievement • A determination to promote must be unanimous by the committee or the student shall be retained as mandated by the law Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

13. What happens if the child doesn’t pass the CRCT? • When deciding to promote, the committee is also reasonably sure that the student will be successful on the next grade level’s CRCT • The individual plan follows the student whether promoted or retained Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

14. Are special needs students in the law? • Students with disabilities are included in the promotion law and their Individual Education Plan Committee makes decisions about testing and promotion based on federal and state laws • Students with Limited English Proficiency are also included in this law and must take the CRCT Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

15. Useful Information (Hyperlinks) • Nettrekker Internet Resource for Subject Areas • Family Education Network • CRCT Resources - Georgia Department of Education Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System