| |
| The primary
purpose of this circular is to review the actions that must be taken
for students identified as at-risk of not meeting grade- level standards. |
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. Please discard all related materials from previous years.
Description of
Attachments
Following is a brief
description of each attachment and highlighted information:
| 1. |
Procedure
No. 4766: Placement/Articulation 9-12 (High School) |
|
Attachment 1 provides
a copy of the district procedure outlining steps related to identification,
monitoring, and placement decisions for at-risk students in high school
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 California
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. It is
the school's responsibility to communicate with parents/guardians.
(See Attachments 3-6 regarding placement guidelines and Attachment
7 for "Student Placement and Support: Grades 9-10" form.)
| 2. Placement
Cut-points: Literacy and Mathematics |
Attachment 2 provides
end-of-year cut-points that identify students who are above/at/close
to, below, or significantly below grade level in literacy and mathematics.
- Performance cut-points
were established to provide common, districtwide criteria to identify
students for support/intervention.
- There are separate
cut-points in literacy for fluent English proficient students and
for English learners. Mathematics cut-points are the same for all
students.
| 3 - 5. Placement
Guidelines: Literacy and Mathematics |
Attachment 3 provides
literacy placement guidelines and "decision trees" for fluent
English proficient students. In May, you received copies of the letters
that were 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 were marked "URGENT,
OPEN IMMEDIATELY."
Attachment 4 provides literacy placement guidelines and "decision
trees" for English learners. In May, you received copies of the
letters that were 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 were marked "URGENT, OPEN IMMEDIATELY."
Attachment 5 provides mathematics placement guidelines and "decision
trees."
| 6. Placement
Guidelines: Special Education and 504 Students |
Attachment 6 provides
"decision trees" for literacy and mathematics course placement
for students receiving special education services and students with
504 plans.
| 7. Student
Placement and Support: Grades 9-10 Form |
Attachment 7 is
a sample "Student Placement and Support: Grades 9-10" form.
This form must be completed for each at-risk student (each student with
a Learning Contract).
- A new "Student
Placement and Support: Grades 9-10" form must be completed at
the end of the summer session for students who attend summer school.
- "Student
Placement and Support: Grades 9-10" forms (NCR) were delivered
to the sites at the end of April. Initial distribution was handled
through IMC. Additional forms may be ordered by calling the Standards,
Assessment and Accountability Department at (619) 725-7165.
| 8. Secondary
Placement Recommendation Form |
Attachment 8 provides
a sample of the form to use when a staff member or parent/guardian request
a review of the student's placement in literacy or mathematics coursework.
- 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 (Attachment 1) and in the
placement guidelines (Attachments 3-5).
- Secondary Placement
Recommendation Forms (NCR) were distributed in late April, with initial
distribution through IMC. Additional forms may be ordered by calling
the Standards, Assessment and Accountability Department at (619) 725-7165.
| 9. Learning
Contract for At-Risk Students |
Attachment 9 provides
a copy of the Learning Contract form for your reference. A "Student
Placement and Support: Grades 9-10" form must be completed for
each student that received a Learning Contract during the 2001-2002
school year.
Action Time Line
| Action
Dates |
Responsible
Party |
Actions
to be Taken |
| Within
last 6 weeks of instruction |
Teacher(s)/
Counselor |
- Evaluate student's academic performance based on designated
performance measures and, if needed and appropriate, additional
evidence of student academic achievement, participation in support
and intervention opportunities, readiness for next grade level,
etc.
- Consult with the principal and the student's parent/guardian.
- Make a decision regarding placement in reading and/or mathematics
courses for the following year. If applicable, the final decision
may be reviewed upon completion of summer school coursework
and assessment at the end of the summer session.
- Indicate decision on "Student Placement and Support:
Grades 9-10" form and submit to principal for signature.
|
| Approx.
two weeks prior to end of school year |
Principal |
- Sign "Student
Placement and Support: Grades 9-10" form and mail notification
to parent/guardian. Notification will include the opportunity
to request a Placement Review Conference.
|
| Prior
to end of school year |
Teacher
Principal
and
Counselor
|
- Convene Placement Review Conference with parent/guardian upon
request to discuss student's academic program for the coming
year.
- Record student performance level and placement recommendation
on "Secondary Placement Recommendation" form.
- Make the final placement decision during the proceedings.
Obtain indication of agreement with or decline of placement
recommendation by parent/guardian.
- Provide parent/guardian with written notice of placement decision.
- File all original documents in the student's cumulative folder
|
| End
of summer school |
Teacher, Principal
|
- Review
student progress and assessment results. Confirm or revise placement
decision.
|
| Principal |
- Mail copy
of new "Student Placement and Support: Grades 9-10"
form to parent/guardian.
|
| Principal |
- File original
document in student's cumulative folder.
|
Questions may be
directed to the Standards, Assessment, and Accountability Department
at (619) 725-7166.
|
