4900166 Public Schools, DC - Notice of Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking - Dual Enrollment and Credit
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS
NOTICE OF EMERGENCY AND PROPOSED RULEMAKING
The Chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), pursuant to Section 103 of the District of Columbia Public Education Reform Amendment Act of 2007, effective June 12, 2007 (D.C. Law 17-9; D.C. Official Code § 38-172(c) (2012 Repl.)), and Mayor’s Order 2007-186 (August 10, 2007), hereby gives notice of the adoption of the following emergency rulemaking. This emergency and proposed rulemaking will amend Section 2200 (Reporting) of Chapter 22 (Grades, Promotion, and Graduation) of Subtitle E, Title 5 (Education), of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR).
The purpose of the rulemaking is to add language regarding the dual credit process that DCPS intends to implement in the 2014-2015 school year, pursuant to the dual enrollment regulations implemented by the Office of the State Superintendent for Education (OSSE) contained in Chapter 24 (Dual Enrollment Regulations) of Subtitle A, Title 5 (Education) of the DCMR. The rulemaking is also making amendments to the numerical calculations and classifications of grades used within DCPS.
Emergency rulemakings are used only for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, safety, welfare, or morals, pursuant to Section 6(c) of the District of Columbia Administrative Procedures Act, approved October 21, 1968 (82 Stat. 1206; D.C. Official Code § 2-505(c)(2012 Repl.)). This emergency rulemaking is necessitated by the immediate need to ensure that DCPS will be able to implement the dual credit option at the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year, and to allow students to begin planning to utilize the process in the Spring of 2014 as they plan their schedules for the Fall 2014 semester.
The rules were adopted on March 4, 2014 and became effective on that date. The rules will remain in effect for up to one hundred twenty (120) days, expiring on July 2, 2014, unless earlier superseded by a Notice of Final Rulemaking.
The proposed rulemaking will be submitted to the Council for a forty-five (45) day period of review. The Chancellor also hereby gives notice of the intent to adopt this rulemaking, in final, in not less than thirty (30) days from the publication of this notice in the D.C. Register, or upon approval of the rulemaking by the Council, whichever occurs later.
Section 2200 (Reporting) of Chapter 22 (Grades, Promotion and Graduation) of Subtitle E (Original Title 5), Title 5 (Education) of the DCMR is deleted and replaced with a new Section 2200 is to read as follows:
2200 REPORTING
2200.1 The marking or grading system of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) 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 DCPS and implemented by the Chancellor.
2200.3 The Chancellor 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 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 (5th) 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 (6th) grade through twelfth (12th) 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. Quality Points (numerical value) shall be assigned to marks (grades) for use in calculating a student’s overall grade point average (GPA), and marks (grades) received in courses classified as Honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, or Dual Credit shall receive higher numerical values than general courses due to the rigor and complexity of the coursework in those programs.
(a) Marks (grades) shall be as follows:
A = 93 to 100,
A- = 90 to 92;
B+ = 87 to 89;
B = 83 to 86;
B- = 80 to 82;
C+ = 79 to 77;
C = 73 to 76;
C- = 70 to 72;
D+ = 67 to 69;
D = 64 to 66; and
F = 63 and below.
(c) Quality Points (numerical value) shall be assigned as follows:
Credit
GPA
On Grade
Honors*
AP, IB or Dual Credit
A (93%-100%)
Yes
Yes
4.0
4.5
5.0
A- (90%-92%)
Yes
Yes
3.7
4.2
4.7
B+(87%-89%)
Yes
Yes
3.3
3.8
4.3
B (83%-86%)
Yes
Yes
3.0
3.5
4.0
B- (80%-82%)
Yes
Yes
2.7
3.2
3.7
C+(77%-79%)
Yes
Yes
2.3
2.8
3.3
C (73%-76%)
Yes
Yes
2.0
2.5
3.0
C- (70%-72%)
Yes
Yes
1.7
2.2
2.7
D+(67%-69%)
Yes
Yes
1.3
1.8
2.3
D (64%-66%)
Yes
Yes
1.0
1.5
2.0
F 63% &below
No
Yes
0.0
0.0
0.0
W
No
Null
W should be used if the student drops the course within three weeks of enrolling in the course.
L (late entry)
No
Null
Converts to AUD (audit) at end of following advisory if course is not completed.
I (incomplete.)
No
Null
Converts to F (63%) after 10 school days if coursework is not completed.
M (medical)
No
Null
M should be applied for a student on medical leave as verified by a doctor’s note or hospital stay.
M may be a final grade but confers no credit.
P (pass)
Yes
Null
AUD (audit)
No
Null
May be used if a student receives permission from the teacher and principal prior to enrolling in the course.
S - satisfactory
No
Null
For use in homeroom or other non-academic time.
U-
unsatisfactory
No
Null
*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.
*Dual Credit: Refers to the academic credit awarded at both the high school and partnering postsecondary institution after a student successfully completes a dual enrollment course
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.
(c) 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.
(d) 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 decision 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.
Comments on this rulemaking should be submitted, in writing, to Kaya Henderson, Chancellor, DCPS at 1200 First Street, NE, 12th Floor, Washington, D.C. 20002, no later than thirty (30) calendar days after the date of the publication of this notice in the D.C. Register. Additional copies of this rule are available from the above address.
