Promotion, Retention, and Placement

Purpose

This policy governs promotion, retention, and placement as it relates to standardized testing at the third, fifth, and eighth grade levels.

Duration

This policy is subject to yearly review based upon updated standards from the State of Georgia and Atlanta Public Schools.

Policy

Section 1. Responsibility for Student Promotion Decisions

The recommendation for promotion to the next grade level is the primary responsibility of the faculty of ANCS.  When the recommendation is for a student to not proceed to the next grade level based on academic performance, the appropriate faculty members will meet with the parents/guardians of the student to discuss the reasons for the recommendation.

Section 2. Promotion, Retention, and Placement Related to Standardized Testing

1. In accordance with Georgia State Board of Education Rule 160-4-2-.11 (Promotion, Placement, and Retention), students at ANCS in grade 3 must demonstrate grade-level proficiency in reading, as measured by statewide standardized tests, and students in grades 5 and 8 must demonstrate grade-level proficiency in reading and mathematics, as measured by statewide standardized tests, in order to be promoted to the next grade level.
2. If this rule is temporarily waived or suspended by the Georgia Department of Education, student promotion will be determined based on the ANCS promotion criteria for all other grade levels.
3. In an instance where a student does not pass the statewide standardized tests required for promotion in these grade levels, the following procedures will be followed:

	Process
Step 1	The parent/guardian of the student will be notified in writing.The student will be retested.
Step 2	If the student passes the specified subtests in a retest administration, the student will be promoted to the next grade level.
Step 3	If the student does not pass the specified subtests in a retest administration, a placement committee meeting will be held within 10 business days of the retest results to determine the placement of the student for the following school year. The parent/guardian of the student will be notified in writing of the time and location of the committee meeting. The placement committee will be comprised of the Campus Principal (or designee), teacher of the student, and the parent/guardian of the student (for students receiving special education services, the IEP team will serve as the placement committee). The placement committee must make a unanimous decision regarding the placement of the student for the following school year.
Step 4	A parent/guardian has the right to appeal the outcome of the placement committee meeting to the ANCS Governing Board of Directors. This appeal must be made to the Chair of the Board in writing within 10 business days of the decision. Within 10 business days of the appeal request, the Board will convene to hear the appeal. At the hearing, faculty members and/or the Campus Principal will also be able to present their recommendation. Following the full hearing, the Board will make a decision on the appeal and notify the parent/guardian in writing within 10 business days. The Board's decision is the final decision of the school.
Step 5	Copies of all correspondence concerning this matter will be placed in the student's permanent record folder.

Section 3. Process for Student Recommended as Not Ready for Promotion

	Process
Step 1	If this is the first year the student has been recommended as not being ready for promotion, the parents/guardians will make the final decision as to the student's placement for the following year.
Step 2	If this is the second year the student has been recommended as not being ready for promotion, the faculty's recommendation will be the final decision as to the student's placement for the following year.
Step 3	A parent/guardian has the right to appeal the promotion decision to the ANCS Governing Board of Directors. This appeal must be made to the Chair of the Board in writing within 10 business days of the decision. Within 10 working days of the appeal, the Board will convene to hear the appeal. At the hearing, faculty members and/or the Campus Principal will also be able to present their recommendation. Following the full hearing, the Board will make a decision on the appeal. The Board's decision is the final decision of the school.

Section 4. Student Promotion Criteria in Grades 6-8

In preparation for the transition to high school, the criteria below are used in grades 6–8 to guide decisions about when a student is ready to move to the next grade level.

To move from 6^th grade to 7^th grade, each ANCS student should demonstrate academic competency as measured by the following criteria:

• Earning an overall grade of 3 or higher in each subject area.
• Earning an achievement level of 3 or higher on the student work portfolio.
• Successfully completing the public exhibition of the student work portfolio.
• Earning a score of Developing or higher on the Grade 6 Georgia Milestones Assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

To move from 7^th grade to 8^th grade, each ANCS student should demonstrate academic competency as measured by the following criteria:

• Earning an overall grade of 3 or higher in each subject area.
• Earning an achievement level of 3 or higher on the student work portfolio.
• Successfully completing the public exhibition of the student work portfolio.
• Earning a score of Developing or higher on the Grade 7 Georgia Milestones Assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

To move from 8^th grade to high school, each ANCS student should demonstrate academic competency as measured by the following criteria:

• Earning an overall grade of 3 or higher in each subject area.
• Earning an achievement level of 3 or higher on the student work portfolio.
• Earning an overall grade of 3 or higher on the Community Project (beginning in the 2017–18 school year).
• Successfully completing the public exhibition of the student work portfolio.
• Earning a score of Developing or higher on the Grade 8 Georgia Milestones Assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

If a student reaches the end of a school year and has not met the criteria for promotion, a decision on placement in the next grade or retention in the current grade will be made. The Middle Campus Principal, in consultation with the student, the student's family, and any appropriate teachers or staff members, will make the final decision.

Students with an IEP may have modifications to these criteria as determined by the Dean of Academic Growth and/or as a part of an IEP.

Resources

• Georgia State Board of Education Rule 160-4-2-.11

Approval and Review

Approved	Effective	Last Review	Next Review
11/15/16	11/15/16	06/2023	06/2026