Parents Need To Know About… HB 656

Georgia Academic Placement and Promotion

Law

Department for Assessment/Accountability, DeKalb County School System

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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