2014-2015 Course Placement and Appeal Criteria Grades 6-8

2014-2015 Grades 6 - 8
Course Placement & Appeal Criteria
Course Placement Process
Appropriate course placement decisions ensure a successful academic experience and avoid disruption to a student’s schedule
during the school year. In order to determine which course is most appropriate for your child, a committee, led by the Department
of Curriculum and Instruction, analyzed the 2014 Winter Scholastic Math Inventory (SMI) and Scholastic Reading Inventory (SRI)
assessments for Math and Reading. Please take the recommendations established through the placement process
seriously as the SMI & SRI assessments are nationally normed assessments that have proven to be a great indicator for student
placement; therefore, we are very confident that the established placement criteria is appropriate.
The purpose of the placement process is not to limit student or parent choice, but to ensure that such choices are based on the best
available information about a student’s tenacity and perseverance relative to the curricular challenges they will encounter in the
coming year. Students wishing to appeal course placement must complete the 2014 - 2015 Course Appeal Form. Please refer to
the Appeal Guidelines outlined below when completing the Appeal Form. Once completed, this form will be submitted to the
Director of Secondary Education by Monday, April 21, 2014. The Director of Secondary Education may contact the
parent/guardian depending on the nature of the request.
Please Note: Placement appeals will not be considered unless an Appeal Form is on file. Appeal forms will be utilized to
determine who will take placement tests in May. Teacher recommendation will be considered for each appeal decision.
7th Grade Language Arts Courses
Criteria
Language Arts 7
No placement criteria required
Advanced Language Arts 7
Criteria for placement:
 Grade 6 Winter SRI of 1150+
Appeal decision will based on the following criteria:
 6th Grade Advanced or Accelerated OAA Reading Score OR
 Grade 6 Spring SRI of 1150+
8th Grade Language Arts Courses
Language Arts 8
Advanced Language Arts 8
Honors English 9
Criteria
No placement criteria required
Criteria for placement:
 Grade 7 Reading Winter SRI of 1200+ AND
 Successful completion of Language Arts 7 or Advanced Language Arts 7
Appeal decision will based on the following criteria:
 7th Grade Advanced or Accelerated OAA Reading Score OR
 Grade 7 Spring SRI of 1200+
Criteria for placement:
 Grade 7 Winter SRI of 1275+ AND
 Successful completion of Advanced Language Arts 7 AND
 Writing Component: Winter Checkpoint Writing Assessment (to be graded
by Advanced Language Arts 7 teachers)
Appeal decision will based on the following criteria:
 7th Grade Advanced or Accelerated OAA Reading Score OR
 Grade 7 Spring SRI of 1275+
2014-2015 Grades 6 - 8
Course Placement & Appeal Criteria
6th Grade Math Courses
Criteria
Math 6
No placement criteria required
Pre-Algebra
Criteria for placement:
 4th Grade Advanced OAA Math Score AND
 Grade 5 Winter SMI of 965+
Appeal Scenario 1 – Student meets Grade 5 Winter SMI of 965+, decision will based
on the following criteria:
 4th Grade Accelerated OAA Math Score AND
 Advanced Score on District Math Placement Test* AND
 5th Grade Advanced OAA Math Score
Appeal Scenario 2 – Student Grade 5 Winter SMI of 900 -964, decision will be based
on the following criteria:
 4th Grade Advanced or Accelerated OAA Math Score AND
 Grade 5 Spring SMI of 965+ AND
 Advanced Score on District Math Placement Test* AND
 5th Grade Advanced OAA Math Score
* This assessment will be given in May in student’s home building
7th Grade Math Courses
Criteria
Math 7
No placement criteria required
Pre-Algebra
Criteria for placement:
 5th Grade Advanced or Accelerated OAA Math Score AND
 Grade 6 Winter SMI of 890+ OR
 Students scoring between 830 – 889 on Grade 6 Winter SMI will be placed
in both Pre-Algebra and Math Extensions
Appeal decision will based on the following criteria:
 5th Grade Advanced or Accelerated OAA Math Score AND
 Grade 6 Winter SMI of 780 – 829 AND
 Grade 6 Spring SMI of 830+ AND
 Proficient Score on District Math Placement Test*
 Students will be placed in both Pre-Algebra and Math Extensions
Algebra 1
* This assessment will be given in May in student’s home building
Criteria for placement
 Successful completion of Pre-Algebra in 6th Grade
Appeal decision will based on the following criteria
 5th Grade Advanced OAA Math Score AND
 Grade 6 Winter SMI of 1030+ AND
 Advanced Score on District Math Placement Test*
* This assessment will be given in May in student’s home building
2014-2015 Grades 6 - 8
Course Placement & Appeal Criteria
8th Grade Math Courses
Criteria
Math 8
No placement criteria required
Algebra 1
Criteria for placement:
 Successful completion of Pre-Algebra in 7th Grade
Appeal decision will based on the following criteria:
 6th Grade Advanced OAA Math Score AND
 Grade 7 Winter SMI of 1030+ AND
 Advanced Score on District Math Placement Test*
Geometry
* This assessment will be given in May in student’s home building
Criteria for placement:
 Successful completion of Algebra 1 in 7th Grade
7th Grade Science Courses
Criteria
Science 7
No placement criteria required
Advanced Science 7
Criteria for placement:
 Students who are eligible for and select Algebra 1 or appeal placement in
to Algebra 1 will be given District Science Placement Test in May to
determine eligibility for this course
8th Grade Science Courses
Criteria
Science 8
No placement criteria required
Honors Science 9
Criteria for placement:
 Successful completion of Advanced Science 7 and concurrently enrolled
in Geometry
7th Grade Social Studies Courses
Criteria
Social Studies 7
No placement criteria required
Advanced Social Studies 7
Criteria for placement:
 Grade 6 Winter SRI of 1150+
Appeal decision will based on the following criteria:
 6th Grade Advanced or Accelerated OAA Reading Score OR
 Grade 6 Spring SRI of 1150+
8th Grade Social Studies Courses
Criteria
Social Studies 8
No placement criteria required
Creating America
Criteria for placement:
 Grade 7 Winter SRI of 1275+ AND
 Successful completion of Social Studies 7 or Advanced Social Studies 7
Appeal decision will based on the following criteria:
 7th Grade Advanced or Accelerated OAA Reading Score OR
 Grade 7 Spring SRI of 1275+

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