Promotion Requirements for Grades K-8
Each school principal or designee shall establish a system of supports for each student in Kindergarten through eighth- grade who does not achieve grade level on the reading and/or mathematics sections of the state mandated assessment or the district assessment. A student support team shall:
A. Determine whether each student shall be retained or promoted based on a review of the overall academic achievement of the student as well as the student’s performance on the Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills 2.0, the Georgia Milestones Assessment System's End-of-Grade assessment or the district assessment where applicable.
B. Develop and implement an accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction plan for each student who does not achieve grade level on the reading and/or mathematics sections as reported by the Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills 2.0, the Georgia Milestones Assessment System's End-of-Grade assessments or the district assessment.
C. Develop a plan of continuous assessment during the subsequent school year in order to monitor the progress of the student
Students shall be tested in accordance with requirements specified in State Board Rule 160-3-1-.07 Testing Programs – Student Assessment.
A mechanism shall be established whereby a school level team will review a student’s performance prior to any decision to retain a student.
Prior to a student’s retention, the student’s parent / guardian must be notified of the possibility of retention and given the opportunity to attend a meeting to discuss the matter.
School-level promotion and retention decisions may be appealed to the superintendent or designee whose decision shall be final.
School principal or designee may retain a student who performs satisfactorily on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Assessments but who does not meet promotion standards and criteria established in the board policy.
How Promotions Are Determined for Grades 3, 5 & 8
The Georgia Promotion, Placement, and Retention law (O.C.G.A. §§ 20-2-282 through 20-2-285) and State Board of Education Rule (160-4-2-.11), mandate the following:
- Georgia Milestones will provide a reading grade level designation (Below Grade Level or Grade Level or Above) for the purpose of determining eligibility for promotion in Reading. In Mathematics, students who attain the Developing Learner Achievement Level are eligible for promotion to the next grade. Students who score Below Grade Level in reading and/or in the Beginning Learner achievement level in mathematics are retained under these provisions and should participate in the End of Grade retest administration.
- Third Grade: No third-grade student shall be promoted to the fourth grade if the student does not achieve a reading determination of grade level on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade assessment in reading and meet the promotion standards and criteria established in this policy that the student attends.
- Fifth Grade: No fifth-grade student shall be promoted to the sixth grade if the student does not achieve grade level on the state-adopted assessments in reading and mathematics and meet promotion standards and criteria established by the local board of education for the school that the student attends.
- Eighth Grade: No eighth-grade student shall be promoted to the ninth grade if the student does not achieve grade level on the state-adopted assessments in reading and mathematics and meet promotion standards and criteria established by the local board of education for the school that the student attends.
Students Not Achieving Grade Level on the Georgia Milestones Assessment System in Grades 3, 5, or 8
A plan for accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction must be developed for each student who does not achieve grade level performance in grades 3, 5, or 8 on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Assessments specified in section (A) above whether the student is retained, placed, or promoted for the subsequent year.
When a student does not perform at grade level in grades 3, 5, or 8 on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Assessments specified in section (A) above, then the following shall occur:
A. Within ten calendar days, excluding weekends and holidays, of receipt of the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Assessments individual student scores, the school principal or designee shall notify in writing the parent or guardian of the student regarding the following:
a. The student’s below-grade-level reading designation and/or the mathematics achievement level on the Georgia Milestones End-of Grade Assessments
b. The specific retest(s) to be given the student and testing date(s)
c. The opportunity for accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction based on the student’s performance on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Assessments
d. The possibility that the student might be retained at the same grade level for the next school year
B. The student shall be given an opportunity for accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction in the applicable subject(s) prior to the retesting opportunity
C. The student shall be retested with appropriate section(s) of the Milestones End-of-Grade Assessments or an alternative assessment instrument that is appropriate for the student’s grade level as provided for by the State Board of Education and this board.
Grade-Level Performance Not Achieved on Second Attempt of the Georgia Milestones Assessment System
When a student does not perform at grade level on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Assessments in grades 3, 5, and 8, and also does not perform at grade level on a second opportunity to take the assessment, then the following shall occur:
A. The school principal or designee shall retain the student for the next school year except as otherwise provided for in this policy.
B. The school principal or designee shall notify in writing the parent or guardian of the student and the teacher(s) regarding the decision to retain the student.
a. The notice shall describe the option of the parent or guardian or teacher to appeal the decision to retain the student;
b. The notice shall describe the composition and functions of the placement committee; it shall describe the option of the parent or guardian, teacher(s), or principal to invite individuals who can provide information or facilitate understanding of the issues to be discussed to attend the placement committee meeting;
c. The notice shall include the requirement that the decision to promote the student must be the unanimous decision of the placement committee comprised of the parent or guardian, teacher(s), and principal or designee.
A student who is absent or otherwise unable to take the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Assessments in English language arts and/or mathematics on the first administration or its designated make-up day(s) shall take the Georgia Milestones End-of- Grade Assessments in English language arts and/or mathematics on the retest administration day(s) or an alternative assessment instrument that is appropriate for the student’s grade level as provided for by the State Board of Education and this board. Placement or promotion of these students shall follow the same procedures as students who do not achieve grade level on the first administration of the assessment.
A student’s failure to take the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Assessments in grades 3, 5, and 8 in English language arts and/or mathematics on any of the designated testing date(s) or an alternative assessment instrument that is appropriate for the student’s grade level as provided for by the State Board of Education and this board shall result in the student being retained. The option of the parent or guardian or teacher(s) to appeal the decision to retain the student shall follow the procedure set forth in this rule.
Appeals Process
If the parent, guardian, or teacher(s) appeals the decision to retain the student, then the school principal or designee shall establish a placement committee to consider the appeal. The placement committee shall be comprised of the principal or designee, the student’s parent or guardian, and the teacher(s) of the subject(s) of the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Assessments or the alternative assessment instrument on which the student failed to perform at grade level.
The placement committee shall be comprised of the principal or designee, the student’s parent or guardian, and the teacher(s) of the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Assessments or the alternative assessment instrument on which the student failed to perform at grade level.
The placement committee shall review the overall academic achievement of the student in light of the performance on the Georgia Milestones End-of-Grade Assessments or the alternative assessment instrument and promotion standards and criteria established in this policy for the school that the student attends, and make a determination to promote or retain.
The principal or designee shall notify in writing the parent or guardian and teacher(s) of the time and place for convening the placement committee. (For students receiving special education or related services, the Individualized Education Plan Committee shall serve as the placement committee.)
The decision to promote must be the unanimous decision of the placement committee and must determine that if promoted and given accelerated, differentiated, or additional instruction during the next year, the student is likely to perform at grade level by the conclusion of the school year.
The placement committee shall prescribe such additional assessments as may be appropriate in addition to assessments administered to other students at the grade level during the year.
The placement committee shall provide for a plan of continuous assessment during the subsequent school year in order to monitor the progress of the student.
School level promotion and retention decisions may be appealed to the superintendent or designee whose decision shall be final.