Student Success Initiative Grade Advancement Requirements

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Student Success InitiativeGrade Advancement
Requirements
Midwinter Conference 2003 Don Long Student
Assessment Casey McCreary Curriculum and
Professional Development Texas Education
Agency Kathy London TASB Policy Service
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Texas Education Code 28.0211
Students in Grades 3 (reading), 5 (reading and
mathematics), and 8 (reading and mathematics)
must demonstrate proficiency in the subjects
required in order to advance to the next grade.
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Demonstrated proficiency is defined by law as
either
TEC 28.0211
Meeting the passing standard on the TAKS
for the required subject(s) or Passing a
state-approved alternate assessment on the third
testing opportunity
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TEC 28.0211
A student who does not demonstrate proficiency
as defined by law may be promoted by his or
her Grade Placement Committee in accordance with
standards set by the local school board.
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Commissioners Rules 101.2001 TEA Policy
To support student academic achievement of the
TEKS at each grade level to enable a student to
succeed at the next grade level and throughout
his or her schooling
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TEA Policy
The Student Success Initiative (SSI) builds on
the Texas Reading Initiative (K-4) begun in 1996
and includes a comprehensive set of services to
support academic achievement.
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These comprehensive services include

• Diagnostic assessment of student needs at
  preceding grades
• Corresponding early interventions that
  address those needs
• Research-based instructional programs
• Continuous and ongoing evaluation and necessary
  interventions during the school year

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Supporting Components of the SSI Grade
Advancement Requirements

• Three testing opportunities
• Accelerated instruction after each test
  administration
• Parental involvement, including notice of
  requirements for testing and accelerated
  instruction

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Supporting Components of the SSI Grade
Advancement Requirements

• Grade Placement Committee (GPC) for each student,
  to decide the most effective way to support the
  students achievement
• Optional alternate test after the second testing
  opportunity
• Individual accelerated instruction plans

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Implementation Time Line
August 2002 (Start of school year)
Notice to parents Reading Initiative K-3
continues (Diagnostic assessment/intervention)
March 4, 2003 Grade 3 Reading TAKS (1)
March 20 districts receive TAKS reports 21
instructional days before next TAKS

April 30, 2003 Grade 3 Reading TAKS (2) July
8, 2003 Grade 3 Reading TAKS (3)
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Student Success Flow Chart
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Student Success Flow Chart
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Local Policy Decision Points

• Promotion standards for grades 1-8
• Alternate assessment instruments
• Standards for promotion upon appeal
• Assignment of retained students
• Reduction of student retention

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Promotion Standards for Grades 1 - 8

• Grades 1-8, Grades 1-2 3-8, Grades 1-5 6-8 .
  . .
• Must earn overall average of 70 for all subject
  areas
• Must earn a grade of at least 70 in certain
  subjects
• Language arts and math
• Language arts (reading spelling) and math
• Reading math and either science or
  social studies
• Three of the following language arts, math,
  science, social studies
• ? ? ? ? ?

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Alternate Assessment Instruments

• Options for the third testing opportunity
• Always use statewide assessment instrument
• Choose an alternate, and GPC decides for each
  student
• Always use an alternate assessment instrument

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Standards for Promotion Upon Appeal

• Evidence of satisfactory performance, such as,
  grades local tests, reading inventories, etc.
• Improvement in performance over the three
  testing opportunities
• Extenuating circumstances

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Assignment of Retained Students

• If a student is not promoted, local policy may
• Assign the student to an age-appropriate campus
• Parent requests otherwise, or
• GPC decides the same assignment is in the
  students best interest
• Assign the student to the same or a similar
  campus

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Reduction of Student Retention

• The District shall establish procedures designed
  to reduce retaining students at a grade level,
  with the ultimate goal being elimination of the
  practice of retaining students.
• Policy statement required for extended year
  grants

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Test Administration Schedule
Excerpt from SSI Q A

• What considerations have been given to districts
  for the third test opportunity that takes place
  in the summer? Are alternate test dates
  permitted?
• Districts may request an alternate testing date
  for 3rd administration, as well as any other
  (e.g., March 4th) in which the district is out of
  session

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Test Administration Schedule
Excerpt from SSI Q A

• What if a student fails to demonstrate
  proficiency after the first administration and
  moves to another district before the second or
  third opportunity?
• The receiving district is responsible for
  ensuring that the student receives the
  accelerated instruction and tests as required by
  law

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Test Administration Schedule
Excerpt from SSI Q A

• If using an alternate assessment for the third
  opportunity, when must it be administered?
• Four-week testing window
• June 16, 2003-July 11, 2003
• Allows districts to schedule assessment to
  coincide with summer school programs

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Special PopulationsSpecial Education
Excerpt from SSI Q A

• Do the SSI-grade advancement requirements apply
  to students receiving special education services?
• Yes
• ARD determines assessment options and promotion
  decisions
• SDAA Grade 3 test requires special considerations

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Notice to Parent
Excerpt from SSI Q A

• What is required in the notice to parents of
  students who do not pass the first administration
  of the Grade 3 reading test?
• Test results
• Description of grade advancement policy
• Accelerated instruction
• Possibility of retention
• Encourage immediate meeting between the students
  parents and teachers

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Resources and Information

• Commissioners List of State-approved Alternate
  Assessments finalized May 2003
• GPC Manual training and dissemination late
  February-early March 2003
• 2003 TAKS Coordinator Manual (on-line)
• Subscribe to TEA Assessment and ELA-Reading
  Listservs www.tea.state.tx.us/list
• Midwinter Town Hall meeting 400 pm Tuesday-Pecan
  Room

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For further information Please contact Student
Assessment Division [phone] or Curriculum
and Professional Development (512)
463-4314 Agency SSI Website http//www.tea.state.t
x.us/student.assessment/ or TASB Policy
Service [phone]