ELK MOUND AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT 345.42-Rule GRADE ACCELERATION PROCEDURES 1. Any staff person or parent/guardian may make a written referral to the building principal to request consideration of a student for grade acceleration (including grade skipping). In order to make the best decision and plan, a referral should be made by the end of the first semester. 2. The school guidance counselor will meet with the student's parent(s)/guardian to discuss the reasons for the referral and the procedures for consideration of grade acceleration. 3. The building principal will send the referral to the appropriate staff (school psychologist, classroom teacher, counselor, Gifted Coordinator, building principal or any other appropriate professionals familiar with the student's capabilities and school progress) for evaluation. The evaluation team will carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the student to determine intellectual functioning, academic skill levels, and social-emotional adjustment. The specific assessments used will be determined by the team, and the evaluation will be done with the written approval of the student's parent(s)/guardian(s). The activities of the evaluation team will be coordinated by the Gifted Coordinator. 4. Upon completion of the evaluation, the evaluation team will hold a conference with the student's parents/guardians, sending and receiving teachers, and principal(s) of the building(s) involved. The findings and recommendations of the evaluation team will be discussed, and a final decision will be made at the conference. In order for a student to be approved for grade acceleration, the student must meet all three of the following criteria: •

Based on an evaluation conducted by the school guidance counselor, it is concluded that the student understands the ramifications and desires acceleration.

•

Based on an evaluation conducted by the evaluation team identified in item (3) above and with parent/guardian verification, it is concluded that the student's social-emotional maturity is at a level where acceleration is desirable, and school performance history indicates that the grade acceleration would be successful.

•

The student must qualify on at least two of the following measures: a. 95th percentile on an individually administered IQ test, and/or b. Demonstrate an academic performance level which is at least two years above current grade level on an individual achievement test in all core subject areas, and/or

c. Successful completion of end of unit tests administered by a teacher of the grade the student would be entering if accelerated or the grade the student will be skipping. The student may take home the books to look over the material that has been covered to date. The tests should be equivalent to what the other students in that class are expected to know. 5. The Superintendent is authorized to review and approve evaluation team recommendations before placement can be implemented.

Adopted:

undocumented

Revised:

May 19, 2014