SUMMARY:

            This bill would amend Part 12 of Article 6 of Chapter 2 of Title 20 of the O.C.G.A. to provide placement and promotion policies for grades 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7.

REQUIREMENTS:

• By January 1, 2010 the SBOE would have to adopt criteria for a promotion policy by each LBOE that would be consistent with the Georgia Academic Placement and Promotion Policy with respect to first and second grades.
• The bill adds requirements for promotion to grade 2:
• • The student must achieve grade level as defined by OSA on the first grade CRCT reading test and
  • Meet promotional standards established by the SBOE and the LBOE
• The bill adds requirements for promotion to grade 3:
• • The student must achieve grade level as defined by OSA on the second grade CRCT reading test and
  • Meet promotional standards established by the SBOE and the LBOE
• The bill does not change current requirements for promotion to grades 4, 6 and 9.
• The bill requires that any student not meeting the criteria for promotion be provided accelerated, differential or additional instruction in the subject on which the student failed to achieve grade level, just as current law requires for promotion at grades 3, 5 and 8.
• The bill would change procedures at all grade levels with state promotion requirements if a child did not pass the CRCT on either the first or the second attempt.  The new procedures would include:
• • The principal would appoint a placement committee consisting of:
  • • The principal or designee;
    • The parent or guardian;
    • The teacher of the subject failed on the CRCT;
    • Another teacher in the same grade level or a previous teacher of the student if possible.  If not possible, then another teacher designated by the principal.
  • Parents would receive a first-class mail notice of the time and place for convening the placement committee.
  • Mandatory retention of a student who received an exceedingly low score as defined by the SBOE would be documented by the placement committee and placed in the student’s record.
  • An appeal would be allowed to the LBOE within 20 days of the decision of the placement committee, and the decision of the LBOE would be final.
• The LBOE would be required to file an annual report as to the number failing the CRCT and the number retained by the placement committee.
• LBOE’s who do not comply would risk loss of state funds.
• LBOE policies would have to be in place by July 1, 2011 with first to second grade promotion requirements and the second to third grade promotion requirements in place by the 2011-2012 school year.

NOTES:

• No promotion policies would be required by the state for grade four to five or grade six to seven or grade seven to eight.
• Re-testing opportunities would have to be added in the summer for grades one and two, an expensive proposition.