GRADES, PROMOTION, AND GRADUATION

Amend 5 DCMR, Chapter 2200 to read as follows:

2200          REPORTING

2200.1       The marking or grading system of the D.C. Public Schools shall be designed to report

                  fairly and accurately student progress and student achievement.

2200.2      All policies on marks (grades) and student progress reporting shall be established by the Board of Education and implemented by the Superintendent of Schools.

2200.3    The Superintendent of Schools shall establish the form(s) for the reporting of marks (grades) and student progress.

2200.4       The primary responsibility for evaluating the work of the student shall rest with the teacher. 

2200.5              All students shall receive instruction leading to the achievement of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) content standards.

(a)          English Language Learners (ELL) shall receive specialized instruction leading to    the development of English language skills and the mastery of academic content.  A student’s mark (grade) in the content area shall not reflect the student’s acquisition of English language skills but rather achievement of the content standards.

                  (b)    Students with disabilities shall receive instruction consistent with the DCPS standards.  Individualized Education Plan (IEP) teams or student support teams in the case of 504 eligible students shall determine appropriate accommodations and curricular modifications where necessary.  A student’s mark (grade) shall not reflect that accommodations have been made.           

2200.6       At the elementary level; pre-kindergarten through fifth (5^th) grade; marks (grades) of 1 through 4 shall be assigned by the teacher to indicate the degree of achievement by a student of the standards in each content area as follows:

4 = exceeds the standard (Advanced);

3 = meets the standard (Proficient);

2 = approaches the standard (Basic); and

1 = does not meet the standard (Below Basic). 

For skills or/expectations within subject areas, sub-marks shall be given as follows:

s = secure;

d = developing;

b = beginning; and

n = not introduced.

2200.7             At the Secondary level; sixth (6^th) grade through twelfth (12^th) grade; marks/ grades of A through F shall be assigned by the teacher to indicate the degree of achievement by a student of the content standards in each course. Results of the end of course exam will count for no more than 20% of the final grade. Marks (grades) shall be as follows:

A = 93 to100,

A- = 90 to 92;

B+ = 87 to 89;

B = 83 to 86;

B- = 80 to 82;

C+ = 79 to77;

C = 73 to 76;

C- = 70 to 72;

D+ = 67 to 69;

D = 64 to 66; and

F = 63 and below. 

*Honors: Intense courses which cover more content in greater depth than general courses of same subject;

*Advanced Placement: College level courses following The College Board guidelines and testing system;

*International Baccalaureate:  Intense program of study following requirements of the International  Baccalaureate Organization.

2200.8       Marks (grades) in courses failed and retaken for credit in grades kindergarten through 12 shall not replace previously earned marks (grades) for any given course, but are included in the student’s cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA).  Marks (grades) earned in extended education programs such as Summer School, STAY School and Evening Credit Recovery courses have the same credit and GPA value as standard year courses. 

2200.9      Mid and end of advisory reporting on student progress:  Parents and students will be informed in writing on a regular basis of the progress made toward achieving the content standards.  Toward that end, principals are responsible for effectively implementing the following process:

(a)             Parents must be notified, by the end of September, of the name and contact information for the school staff member they should call about concerns impacting their child’s academic progress (academic, social or behavioral). 

(b)     If, by the mid-point of an advisory, a teacher considers a student at risk of failing to meet the standards, the teacher shall notify the parent, in writing, and if appropriate refer the student to the student support team. 

When a student has been identified as at risk of failing to meet the content standards, the principal, teacher(s) (bilingual/English as a Second Language (ESL) special education teacher where appropriate) and other designated staff shall work with the parents and the student to identify appropriate interventions.  They may consider a variety of options including but not limited to: 

1.      examining and altering current instructional strategies or materials;

2.      tutoring (during or after school);

3.      a change in schedule;

4.      referral to other support, social service or health-related services;

5.      problem-solving with other students or individuals who may have an impact on the student’s achievement;

6.      a change in teacher; and

7.      targeted instruction.

(c)    If, by the close of the advisory, the problem persists and the student receives a mark (grade) of 2 or 1 at the elementary level or D or F at the secondary level in any of the core subjects, additional options will be considered, including:

1.   referral to additional researched-based support options or alternative programs for more intensive services (pre-referral documentation must provide evidence that other interventions have been attempted);

2.      access to additional instructional time (during the day, extended day or summer school); and

3.      referral to student support team.

(d)             If, by the end of the academic year, the student fails to meet the content

standards, an intervention plan will be developed by the current teacher and implemented during the summer and the following academic year.       

(e)      Parents will be engaged in the consideration of additional researched based

intervention strategies and will be informed, in writing, of any decisions resulting from the researched based intervention strategies. 

2200.10    Teachers shall provide marks (grades) for each student and the school system shall issue report cards after the end of each advisory or/marking period documenting the student’s progress toward achieving the content standards. Report cards shall be distributed no later than 10 to 12 working days after the end of the advisory.  

2200.11     All students who have not met the standards in a course or in a grade shall be notified no later than the last day of school in order to ensure timely enrollment in Summer School.

2201          PROMOTION

2201.1       Promotion shall be defined as the movement of students to higher grade levels or/course levels and to graduation from high school in accordance with DC School Board Policy.

2201.2       Promotions shall be made at the end of the school year. Special promotions may be made at any time with the documented assessment conducted and certified by the Chief Academic Officer and the written approval of the Regional Superintendent whose jurisdiction encompasses the school that the student attends.

2201.3       Students with disabilities, identified through the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) 2004, are eligible for promotion as determined in accordance with the goals and objectives, accommodations and modifications as it relates to the content standards developed and agreed upon by the IEP Team.  For English Language Learners, any decision on retention must be made in conjunction with the bilingual/ English Second Learner (ESL) teacher.

 2201.4        A student may only be retained at grades three (3), five (5) and eight (8) with the following requirements:

(a)    A student cannot be retained more than once during his enrollment in the District of Columbia Public Schools unless there is a comprehensive review by multiple school personnel and approval from the Regional Superintendent whose jurisdiction encompasses the school the student attends; and

(b)  If a student does not meet all requirements for promotion, but moves on to middle or high school because s/he has been previously retained, the principal must submit a report to the receiving school detailing all unmet requirements. This report must be received by June 30 and updated at the close of summer school.  For students who move prior to the end of the school year, the report must be provided to the receiving school within thirty (30) calendar days of the student’s enrollment in the school.  Students in this situation will be enrolled in support services in the receiving school.

2201.5             Students who do not achieve the grade level content standards at the end of the academic year will be given additional support as defined in DCMR 2200.9.  Only when all other interventions have been unsuccessful, and the student has not made sufficient academic progress during the course of a school year in the gate grades of three (3), five (5), or eight (8), will the student be considered for retention.  A review team consisting of the principal, a guidance counselor, the student support team, the student’s teachers, and his/her parent shall review all potential retentions.  Principals have the final authority for all first time promotion/retention decisions. The review team will include the liaison teacher for any student with an IEP and a bilingual/ESL teacher for any student enrolled in a bilingual or ESL program.

2201.6                            Promotion of students in pre-kindergarten through fifth (5^th) grade to the next            level shall include consideration of the following criteria.  Students shall receive:

(a)          Proficient or advanced marks in the core subjects of:

1.      Reading/language arts;

2.      Mathematics;

3.      Science; and

4.      Social studies.

(b)         Achievement of the goals of the intervention learning plan where applicable;

(c)          Meet the requirements of the system’s attendance policy;

(d)   If a student in pre-kindergarten or kindergarten has met the proficiency requirements in the core subject areas but is not functioning at a skill level deemed ready for promotion to kindergarten or first grade by a teacher or a parent in the areas of physical, social or emotional development, an option of repeating a pre-kindergarten or kindergarten may be considered without being regarded as a retention.

2201.7             Promotion of students in grades six through eight to the next level shall include                  consideration of the following criteria:  Students shall:

(a)     Complete three courses in English Language Arts;

(b)     Complete three courses in mathematics;

(c)    Complete three courses in science;

(d)    Complete three courses in social studies;

(e)     Achieve the goals of the intervention learning plan where applicable; and

(f)     Meet the requirements of the system’s attendance policy.

2201.8             Students may complete the high school graduation requirements over a three, four, or five year period, depending upon the time and support they need to complete graduation requirements as stated in their individualized graduation plan signed and verified by the counselor. The following guidelines shall apply for testing purposes where a grade definition is required: 

(a)       Any student who earns six (6) Carnegie Units by completing content standards of the required courses including units in ninth (9^th) grade English and Algebra I, shall be eligible to be classified as a tenth (10^th) grade student.

(b)      Any student who earns twelve (12) Carnegie Units by completing content standards of the required courses including tenth (10^th) grade English, shall be eligible to be classified as an eleventh (11^th) grade student.

(c)       Any student who earns eighteen (18) Carnegie Units by completing content standards of the required courses including eleventh (11^th) grade English, shall be eligible to be classified as a twelfth (12^th) grade student.

2202                GRADUATION: GENERAL POLICY

2202.1             Each student who meets the following requirements shall be eligible to receive a high

                  school diploma:

(a)      Achievement of course content standards as required for the diploma, as set forth in §2203.1; 2203.2; 2203.3 and 2203.4; and

(b)     Enrollment and regular attendance in the DC Public Schools for a minimum of eight (8) consecutive months prior to graduation.

2202.2             Each student who meets the requirements set forth in this section shall be certified as eligible to receive the high school diploma by the principal or other person in charge of the school or program in which the student is enrolled.

2202.3             The high school diploma shall be conferred upon the student by the Superintendent of             Schools or the Superintendent’s designee in the name of the Board of Education, upon certification.

2202.4             Each diploma shall bear the signature of the Superintendent of Schools and the seal of the Board of Education.

2202.5             No student shall receive a high school diploma unless the student has first completed all requirements for the diploma.

2202.6             If a student does not meet the requirements set forth in §2202.1, 2203.2, 2203.3 or 2203.4, the procedures in §2202.7 through §2202.9 shall apply.

2202.7             If the prior academic record of a transfer student and the course work and skill level achievement of the student during enrollment in the D.C. Public Schools are satisfactory, the student may be granted an exemption from the requirement of § 2201.1(b) by the Regional Superintendent whose jurisdiction encompasses the school which the student attends, the principal or other person in charge of the school or program in which the student is enrolled.

2202.8             The course work credits received by the student prior to transfer into D.C. Public Schools may be used to meet the D.C. Public Schools graduation requirements of that school system upon verification of successful completion of this comparable course work.

2202.9             If the D.C. Public School student is receiving a diploma from another school system but is unable to attend graduation exercises held by the school system, the student may be allowed to participate in the graduation exercises of the D.C. Public School being attended upon the approval of the Superintendent of Schools.

2203            GRADUATION: ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

2203.1          The following course work shall be required of students who enrolled in 9^th grade in school year 2007-2008 and thereafter in order to be certified as eligible to receive the high school diploma.  At the beginning of the 9^th grade, students shall develop a graduation plan pacing the courses they will take to complete high school.  This shall be done with the assistance and signed approval of the school counselor. 

2203.2          A total of twenty-four (24) Carnegie Units shall have been satisfactorily completed as follows:

(a)       The following Carnegie Units in the corresponding subjects shall be required:

(b)   All students must enroll in Algebra no later than 9^th grade commencing with the 2007-2008 school year; and

                    (c)        The Career/Technology Education (CTE) and college level course requirement shall be met by identified AP, IB, HI-SCIP and CTE courses as well as courses taken at accredited colleges.

2203.3       The Superintendent of Schools may establish specialized or career focused programs or courses of study, which lead to the high school diploma in accordance with 2203.4.  These courses of study can include academic, performing arts, science and mathematics, career or vocational education focuses or other areas of concentration.  The programs or courses of study may require additional coursework.

2203.4       Electives taken to fulfill the requirements of section 2203.2 shall be required to be taken in courses established by the Superintendent for each area of concentration in order to receive certification in the area of concentration.

2203.5       Each student who completes the requirements for specialized courses of study shall receive appropriate recognition on the student’s diploma.

2203.6       A student with special needs who does not achieve a diploma, as set forth in § 2203.4 shall be eligible to receive a Certificate of Individual Educational Program (IEP) completion.  The decision to pursue a program leading to an IEP Certificate of Completion shall be made by the IEP team including the parent(s) and where possible, the student.  The decision shall be made no earlier than the 9^th grade and shall be attached in writing to the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP).  DCPS shall comply with the Individuals with Disabilities Act, 2004 (IDEA) as addressed in DCMR, Title V, Chapter 30, with regards to appropriate transition assessments.

2203.7       Graduation Requirements from Previous Years: The following coursework shall be required of students who enrolled in 9th grade prior to 1983 in order to be certified as eligible to receive the high school diploma:

(a)       A total of seventeen point five (17.5) Carnegie Units; and

(b)      The Carnegie Units shall include 4 Carnegie Units in English; 1 in US History; .5 in US Government; 1 in Mathematics and 1 in Science; one point five in Health/Physical Education and eight point five electives.

2203.8      The following coursework shall be required of students who enrolled in 9^th grade between 1984 and 1992 in order to be certified as eligible to receive a diploma.

(a)        A total of twenty point five (20.5) Carnegie Units; and

(b)     The Carnegie Units shall include 4 in English; 1 in Foreign Language; .5 in DC History- Government; 1 in US History; .5 in US Government; 2 in Mathematics; 2 in Science; 1.5 in Health/Physical Education; 1 in Life Skills Seminar and 7 Electives.

2203.9       The following coursework shall be required of students entering 9^th grade between the school year 1992-1993 and school year 2006-2007 in order to be certified as eligible to receive the high school diploma.

(a)      A total of twenty-three and one-half (23 ½) Carnegie Units shall have been completed.

(b)       The following Carnegie Units in the corresponding subjects shall be required:

(c)        One and one-half (1 ½) Carnegie Units in health and physical education shall not    be required for the evening program high school diploma; and

(d)       One hundred (100) hours of community service shall be required for graduation.

2204          GRADUATION STATUS OF STUDENTS

2204.1       Each adult student, or the parent or guardian of a minor student, shall be informed in writing not later than ten (10) days after the close of the third (3rd) advisory period of the student's graduation status.

2204.2       The notice required by this section shall include a warning that the student may not be eligible for graduation in June, if applicable.

2205          OFFICIAL LIST OF GRADUATES

2205.1       The Superintendent of Schools shall annually compile and present to the Board of Education at its June regular meeting, the names of all students who have been certified as eligible to receive the high school diploma by the appropriate principal or other person in charge of the school or program in which the student is enrolled.

2205.2      Upon official receipt of the list of students receiving diplomas, the Board of Education shall act to enter the names in the official journal of the Board of Education.

2206          DIPLOMAS AND GRADUATION EXERCISES

2206.1       The receipt of a high school diploma, a Certificate of Attainment or a Certificate of Individualized Education Program by an eligible student shall not be contingent upon the payment of any fee or other consideration, except the payment of non-resident tuition fees required by statute and the provisions of Chapter 20 of this title.

2206.2              Graduation exercises shall be held only to confer the high school diploma.

2206.3              Exercises held to formally award Certificates of Attainment and Certificates of Individualized Education Program shall be in accordance with procedures established in the Superintendent of Schools. Exercises held to formally acknowledge promotion, as defined in § 2201, shall not include the wearing of cap and gown, rental of facilities, or the assessment of any class fees.

2207          CLASS FEES

2207.1       The assessment of a class fee to cover expenses in connection with graduation exercises shall be permitted subject to the requirements and restrictions set forth in this section.

2207.2       The maximum amount of the class fee shall be uniformly established by the Superintendent of Schools.

2207.3       The appropriate Assistant Superintendent shall be authorized to exempt a student from the payment of the class fee in instances of hardship.

2207.4       The expense of caps and gowns, yearbook subscriptions, proms, class gifts, and other activities that may be associated with graduation shall not be included in the class fee.

2207.5       Activities such as those listed in § 2207.4, if offered, shall be made available to students on an individual basis at the option of each student.

2207.6       The decisions whether to wear cap and gown, and whether to utilize rental facilities for graduation exercises, shall involve school staff, students, and parents or guardians.

2207.7       No student shall be required to wear a cap and gown in order to participate in graduation exercises.

2208          CLASS GIFTS

2208.1       The decision whether to present a class gift shall involve school staff, students, and parents or guardians.

2208.2       Class gifts to the school, if any, shall consist of or be paid for only by donations, including the creative work of students.

2208.3       Class gifts shall not be made to any individual(s).

Delete Sections 2209 and 2299