Parents Need To Know About… HB 656

1
Parents Need To Know About HB 656

• Georgia Academic Placement and Promotion Law

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, 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)

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, 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

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System
4
When Did HB 656 Start?

• 3rd graders had to pass the reading section of
  the CRCT in spring 2004 to be promoted to grade
  4.
• 5th graders had to pass the reading and math
  sections in spring 2005 to be promoted to grade
  6.
• 8th graders had to pass reading and math to go to
  grade 9 in spring 2006.

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System
5
What is the schools 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

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System
6
What is the schools role?

• Offer PTAs and other forums to discuss the
  schools 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
• .

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System
7
What is the schools role?

• Develop individualized instructional plans (Level
  I) for students who need greater assistance with
  academic development
• Plan meetings with parents to discuss
  instructional support plans to improve
  achievement and provide suggestions to parents on
  how to help at home

Revised 7/08 Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System
8
What is the parents 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 childs progress or
  communicate with teachers by phone, notes or
  e-mail

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System
9
What is the parents role?

• Communicate first with teachers regarding
  concerns or problems
• Ask for updates on your childs 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 !!

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System
10
What happens if the child doesnt pass the Spring
2009 CRCT?

• Parents must be notified of failure in writing
  within 10 calendar days (excluding weekends) of
  receipt of test results in the school by
  first-class mail. The letter will describe a
  summer program for remedial instruction and a 2nd
  opportunity to take the CRCT during summer.

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System
11
Parental Notification Letter Sample 3rd Grade
Parent Letter
DeKalb County School System Notification of
Failure to Meet Standard on Georgia
Criterion-Referenced Competency Test May
2009 Dear Parents or Guardians of
__________________________________ Based on
your childs score on the spring 2009 Georgia
Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) in
reading for grade 3, and in accordance with
Georgia law O.C.G.A. 20-2-282, your child will be
retained unless he/she takes and scores at
Performance Level I on a second CRCT that is
scheduled for June of 2009. In the event that
your child fails to meet the states passing
score of 800 on the second CRCT, you will be
provided with procedures that describe how to
request an appeal of your childs retention
through the school. To offer additional
instructional support in reading and to provide
for the administration of the second CRCT, there
will be a tuition-free Rising Scholars summer
school program during June of 2009 with
transportation provided. This program is
specifically designed to accelerate,
differentiate, and/or provide additional reading
instruction. The Rising Scholars program will be
offered at several elementary school sites
throughout the DeKalb County School System.
Students will be assigned to attend a summer site
based on bus service routes. For students who
have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) or 504
plans, a meeting will be scheduled during early
August to discuss and plan instruction for your
child. We look forward to planning and working
with you. Sincerely, , Principal
Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System
12
What happens if the child doesnt pass the 2nd
CRCT?

• The law states that if the second CRCT is failed,
  the principal or the principals designee
  shall retain the student for the next school
  year.
• A letter is directed to the parents regarding the
  childs inability to pass the second CRCT that
  includes a description of the optional appeal
  process that a parent, guardian or teacher may
  pursue.

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System
13
Parental Notification of 2nd Failure Sample 5th
Grade Parent Letter
DeKalb County School System Notification of
Failure to Perform on 2nd CRCT in Reading and/or
Math Appeal Process Dear Parents or Guardians
of_______________________________________ We
regret to inform you that on the second
administration of the ___reading, ___math
section(s) of the 5th grade Georgia
Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) in
June of 2009, your child, ________________________
___________________________did not meet
Performance Level I. In accordance with state
law, O.C.G.A. 20-2-282, we must inform you that
your child will be retained in grade five for the
2009-2010 school year. An additional
component of this law requires that you be
informed of the right to appeal the decision to
retain your child in the fifth grade for
2009-2010. Should you wish to appeal the
retention of your child in the fifth grade for
2009-2010, you must inform me in writing by
drafting a brief statement that is signed and
dated by you that indicates your desire to appeal
the decision to retain your child. Your written
statement must include (1) the name of your
child in print, and (2) current and completely
accurate telephone and mailing contact
information so that you can be notified of the
date and time that your appeal will be heard.
Parents or guardians must bring or send the
written statement that requests an appeal for the
child to the principals office within 15 working
days (Monday through Friday) of the date of this
letter. When the written statement is received
in the principals office, it will be logged into
a receipt book. A request for an appeal will not
be accepted if received after 15 working days
from the date of this letter. By state law, a
Placement Committee will meet to discuss the
appeal. This committee will be comprised of the
parents or guardians, the teacher(s) of the
failed subject area (reading) on the CRCT, and
the principal or the principals designee. The
Placement Committee will review the second CRCT
failure in reading and/or math in light of your
childs overall academic achievement during the
2008-2009 school year and, if applicable,
progress made while attending the Rising Scholars
summer school program, and finally, make a
decision regarding promotion. In accordance with
state law, the decision to promote must be
unanimous. You will be notified in writing of
the date, time and location for the Placement
Committee meeting. You will also be contacted by
telephone about the Placement Committee meeting.
In accordance with the DeKalb Board of
Educations policy for Promotion and Retention,
the decision of the Placement Committee shall not
be appealed beyond the school. For students
who have Individualized Education Plans (IEP) or
504 plans, the Placement Committee will be the
IEP committee, and the 504 Team respectively.
This letter also serves to inform the
parent/guardian that an IEP meeting notification
or student 504 Team meeting notification will be
forthcoming. The decision to promote will be
made by the IEP committee or the Student Support
Team. Sincerely, , Principal Revised
7/08, Department of Elementary Instruction
14
What is the Appeal Process if the child does not
pass the 2nd CRCT?

• If parents/guardians request in writing to appeal
  the retention within the specified time limit,
  then a Placement Committee is established by the
  principal. A Placement Committee meeting is held
  to discuss and compare the failure(s) on the CRCT
  to the childs overall academic achievement. The
  Placement Committee is comprised of the parents,
  the principal or his/her designee and a teacher
  in the failed subject(s) on the test. Other
  teachers or the counselor may provide information
  about the students academic achievement during
  the meeting. Discussion can include a
  consideration regarding placement in the next
  grade. Placement means that the student has not
  met the academic standards for promotion, but
  there is a need to consider other critical
  factors.
• A vote is taken by the Placement Committee to
  decide the promotion of the child and it must be
  a unanimous decision by the principal or
  designee, the teacher of the failed subject
  area(s) and parents. If the decision is not
  unanimous, the student shall be retained as
  mandated by the law.
• The Board Policy for DeKalb County School System
  regarding the promotion law (IHE) does not allow
  for an appeal beyond the school once the final
  decision has been made by the school-based
  Placement Committee.

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System
15
What does the Placement Committee have to
consider before voting to promote a student who
failed the CRCT?

• According to the state rule, when making the
  decision regarding the fall grade-level for a
  student, the Placement Committee is also
  indicating that it is reasonably sure that the
  student will be successful in meeting grade level
  standards on the spring CRCT.
• The individual plan of remediation follows the
  student whether promoted, retained or placed.

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System
16
What support is available if the child doesnt
pass the 1st and 2nd CRCT?

• The law requires schools to write and/or revise
  an individualized plan to accelerate,
  differentiate and/or provide additional
  instruction to assist the student in meeting the
  grade level standards that the CRCT assessed that
  the student failed. Parents should be invited to
  participate in the development of the plan and be
  prepared to assist.

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System
17
Notification of Final Decision by Placement
Committee Sample 3rd Grade Parent Letter
Notification of Final Decision of Placement
Committee Date________________ Dear Parents or
Guardians of __________________________________
The Georgia Academic Placement and Promotion law
(HB 656 and 1190) requires that a 3rd grade
student take and pass the Georgia
Criterion-Referenced Competency Test CRCT in
reading at Performance Level 2 or higher during
the first or retest administration of the reading
CRCT. Your child, ________________________________
______did not pass the CRCT. On August
______, 2009, a Placement Committee Meeting was
held to discuss your childs academic
achievement, participation in the summer school
program, other test results, progress with
accelerated, differentiated and, or additional
instruction in comparison to the CRCT reading
retest failure. After careful discussion and
review of your childs achievement, CRCT, ITBS
and other test scores, progress reports, and
report cards for the 2008-2009 school year, a
unanimous decision was made to ____promote to 4th
grade, _____place in 4th, _____retain in 3rd
grade grade for the 2009-2010 school year.
The Placement Committee strongly believes
that_________________________ will be reasonably
_____successful, _____unsuccessful on the reading
portion of the 4th Grade CRCT Test in the spring
of 2010. Sincerely, ,Principal Revised
7/08, Department of Elementary Instruction
18
Are students with special needs expected to meet
the requirement of 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 who are English Language Learners are
  also included in this law. They must take the
  CRCT. If a student is new to the USA and does not
  speak English, then the student may be given a
  one-year, one-time waiver from the reading
  section of the CRCT. However, the student must
  still take and pass the math section.

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System
19
Useful Information (Hyperlinks)

• Nettrekker Internet Resource for Subject Areas
• Family Education Network
• CRCT Resources - Georgia Department of Education

Revised 7/08, Department for Elementary
Instruction, DeKalb County School System