No. 160       Institute for Learning

This circular and accompanying attachments contain important information related to student placement/ articulation. It is essential that site administrators, teachers, counselors, and site technicians carefully review all of the attached materials to ensure that the student placement processes outlined in the Blueprint for Student Success are followed consistently throughout the district:

Following is a brief description of each attachment and highlighted information:

Attachment 1 is an advance copy of the revised procedure outlining steps related to identification, monitoring, and placement decisions for at-risk students in Grades 9-12.

• Students entering Grade 9 who are significantly below grade level will be placed in an accelerated support program. These courses are designed to improve student skills and success in high school course work and on the High School Exit Examination, and to provide adequate opportunities for students to earn needed course credits for graduation and post-secondary education.

• Parents/guardians must be notified about the placement/articulation decision. (See also Attachment 2 on the "Student Placement and Support: Grades 9-12" form and Attachments 4-7 regarding Placement Guidelines.)

Attachment 2 is a sample "Student Placement and Support: Grades 9-12" form. This form must be completed for each at-risk student (each student with a Learning Contract).

• For students who attend summer school, a new "Student Placement and Support: Grades 9-12" form must be completed at the end of the summer session.
• "Student Placement and Support: Grades 9-12" forms (NCR) will be available on or about May 18. Initial distribution will be handled through IMC; principals will be notified of the process as soon as the arrival date is confirmed. Following this initial distribution, additional forms may be ordered through the stock catalogue (see Attachment 1 – Procedure 4766 for stock order numbers).

Attachment 3 provides end-of-year cut-points that identify students who are above/at/close to, below, or significantly below grade level.

• Performance cut-points were established to provide common, districtwide criteria to identify students for support/intervention.

• There are separate cut-points in literacy for English-speaking students and for English learners. Mathematics cut-points will be disseminated with the end-of-year mathematics assessment materials.

Attachment 4 provides literacy placement guidelines and "decision trees" for English-speaking students. In early May, you will receive copies of the letters that will be mailed to parents/guardians reporting students’ SDRT scores. Please note that the letters for parents of Grade 8 students who are candidates for the Grade 9 support program will be marked "URGENT, OPEN IMMEDIATELY."

Attachment 5 provides literacy placement guidelines and "decision trees" for English learners. Again, in early May, you will receive copies of the letters that will be mailed to parents/guardians reporting students’ SDRT scores. The letters for parents of Grade 8 students who are candidates for the Grade 9 support program will be marked "URGENT, OPEN IMMEDIATELY."

Attachment 6 provides mathematics placement guidelines and "decision trees."

Attachment 7 provides "decision trees" for literacy and mathematics course placement for students receiving special education services and students with 504 plans.

Attachment 8 provides "decision trees" for literacy and mathematics course placement for middle-level school students, for your information and reference.

Attachment 9 provides a sample of the form that will be used for placement review conferences.

• A placement review conference may be convened for a student if there is a belief that the assessment results do not accurately reflect the student’s academic performance. The conference will involve the teacher, counselor, principal (or designee), parent/guardian, and student. These are expected to be exceptional circumstances. Information about the Placement Review Conference is detailed in Procedure 4766 (see Attachment 1) and in the placement guidelines (see Attachments 4-6).

• Placement Recommendation Forms (NCR) will be available on or about May 18, with initial distribution through IMC or the mailroom. Principals will be notified of the process as soon as the delivery date is confirmed. Following this initial distribution, additional forms may be ordered through the stock catalogue (see Attachment 1 – Procedure 4766 for stock order numbers).

A session concerning promotion/retention/placement processes will be offered at the next Professional Development Conference to be held on May 17 and 18, 2001. Counselors received information at the April 25-26 meetings; materials will be sent to those counselors unable to attend one of the meetings.