Acceleration at North Allegheny
Mathematics Acceleration (Elementary) ● Students may qualify for grade level-acceleration entering fourth grade OR entering fifth grade. ● Enables students to be placed in the M4+ pathway upon entering middle school. (Pre-Algebra (7M4) as a 6 th grader---one grade level advanced). ● In the long run, students will be able to take some form of Calculus as a junior instead of during their senior year, which will enable students to take more Advanced Placement (AP) courses in mathematics and other disciplines.
Mathematics Acceleration (Elementary) ● First Benchmark: 95% or higher out of 1600 total points (at grade level) on the Mathematics Placement Matrix that all elementary students are entered in for mathematics placements. ○ Mathematics Placement Matrix (Criteria for Selection): End of Book test (X5), ITBS Math Subtest (X6), ITBS Computation Subtest (X2), Basic Facts Test (X2), Math Attributes (X1). (Maximum of 100 for each achievement category). ● Second Benchmark: 95 th percentile or higher on the Math Subtest on the ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills). ○ Students that achieve at BOTH the first and second benchmarks are invited to take the SCAT (Johns Hopkins University School and College Ability Test).
Mathematics Acceleration (Elementary) ● Third Benchmark: A score in the 97 th percentile or above on the Elementary Level SCAT Quantitative Section (at grade level) AND a score in the 92 nd percentile or above on the Intermediate Level SCAT three grade levels above the students current grade. ○ Students achieving the third benchmark will be placed on the Elementary Grade Acceleration Matrix and will need to earn 80% or higher out of 50 total points. ○ Grade Acceleration Matrix (Criteria for Selection): End of Year Test (for skipped grade) (X3), Elementary SCAT (normed for grade 3 or for grade 4) (x2), Intermediate SCAT (normed for grade 6 or for grade 7) (x2), ITBS Math Subset (X2), Teacher Evaluation (X1). (Maximum of 5 for each achievement category).
Mathematics Acceleration (Elementary) ● Ranges for Grade Level Acceleration: ○ 40-50: Excellent Candidate ○ 33-39: Possible Candidate ○ 32 and below: Not a Candidate ● End of Year Test for the grade that is being skipped is given in May. Students that score 33-39 on the Acceleration Matrix will be given the opportunity to re-test (End of Year Test only) at the end of August. ○ An on-line access code to GO MATH for the skipped grade level will issued to the family over the summer to prepare for the re-test at the end of August.
Mathematics Acceleration(Entering 7 th grade) ● All students entering seventh grade are eligible to grade level accelerate. (There is no grade level acceleration from 5 th to 6 th grade except for students already in the the M4+ pathway). ● In particular, the 6M4 students that achieve a 95% or higher out of 100 total points on the 6 th to 7 th mathematics placement matrix are being identified by the District. ○ The 6M4 students are the students that might of just barely missed grade level acceleration at the elementary level. ○ Mathematics Placement Matrix (Criteria for Selection all weighted equally): ITBS total Mathematics Score, Pre-Algebra Placement Exam, Student Achievement (average of the 1 st three reporting periods), 5 th grade PSSA performance level, and Student Attributes. (Maximum of 20 for each achievement category).
Mathematics Acceleration(Entering 7 th grade) ● Acceleration must occur in a “classroom setting course”. (The District does not recognize on-line courses for math acceleration at this point). ○ CCAC North Campus offers a high school division over the summer. This is the only location that will use our book, our curriculum, and in some cases our teachers. ○ Students must achieve at least 80% in the course work AND students must achieve at least 80% on the NASD Pre-Algebra to Algebra 1 placement exam. ● Upon successful completion of the 80%/80%, students will be placed in Advanced Algebra 1 (8M4) as a 7 th grader (M4+ pathway…..one grade level advanced). ● In analyzing the data from summer school acceleration, we do not see a significant effect on advancement if the cut off on the placement exam is changed to 85 instead of 80.
Mathematics Acceleration (Entering 8 th grade through Entering 12 grade) ● All students are eligible to grade level accelerate. ● Acceleration must occur in a classroom setting course (the District does not recognize on-line courses for math acceleration at this point). ○ CCAC North Campus offers a high school division over the summer. This is the only location that will use our book, our curriculum, and in some cases our teachers. ○ Students must achieve at least 80% in the course work AND students must achieve at least 80% on the NASD placement exam for that particular course. ● Upon successful completion of the 80%/80% students will be placed in the next math course in sequence on the NASD mathematics pathway chart.
Mathematics Acceleration ● Questions that are being asked about Math Acceleration 1. How/When does our staff decide summer acceleration is an appropriate opportunity to share with families and students? Is the math department aggressively marketing students to take the summer school acceleration option? 2. When is the acceleration option presented to a student and their family? How is it presented? 3. Is our policy of accepting an 80% or better on the NASD placement exam and in the course being accelerated through setting our students up for success as they continue to matriculate through mathematics?
Science Acceleration (entering 9th or 10th grade) Science students may choose to accelerate through either Honors Biology ● (typically 9th grade) or Honors Chemistry (typically 10th grade) Students who choose to accelerate must: ● Meet with school counselor prior to enrolling in an approved college course ○ Turn in all paperwork on time (mid April) ○ Receive an 80% or better in an approved college course (CCAC or ○ otherwise) Face-to-face, including a lab component, for college credit ■ Get 80% or better on the NASD science acceleration exam (mid August) ○ Cumulative, 100 multiple choice questions ■
Science Acceleration (entering 9th or 10th grade) Science acceleration differs from mathematics in that: ● There is no perfect college course to match our NASD curriculum ○ Fewer students attempt (and are successful) every summer compared to ○ mathematics There is no defined pathway, as students can choose from science electives ○ that they are eligible for (1 in 9th/10th, multiple in 11th/12th) Students who accelerate honors biology must still show proficiency on the ● Biology Keystone exam as a graduation requirement Acceleration offers no NASD credits on a high school transcript ●
Science Acceleration (Questions & Concerns) Acceleration is challenging. Even without accelerating, students can take multiple ● (6 or 7) honors & AP level science courses at NA Many students who are not successful attempt science acceleration against the ● recommendation of their teachers and counselors Compacting a 1.5 credit honors level course, with lab component, is very difficult ● in a shortened summer semester Science acceleration is available to every student. However, it is not appropriate ● even for the vast majority of honors level students
World Language Acceleration (High School) Since much of what is learned in a World Language classroom is verbal and ● interactive, acceleration is greatly discouraged. There are several reasons that acceleration could be considered. A desire to change languages in 9th grade and limited level I options ○ Students new to the district that would like to be on “grade - level” ○ Schedule conflicts ○ Opportunity to take the highest level of the language offered (AP) ○ An acceleration will only be approved ONCE in a particular sequence and NASD ● credit is NOT offered for the accelerated course
World Language Acceleration (High School) Students who choose to accelerate must: ● Meet with the World Language Department Chair prior to enrolling in an ○ approved college course. It is student’s responsibility to find a course that is appropriate and convenient for the situation. Sign an acknowledgement of acceleration ○ Receive an 80% or better in an approved college course ○ Face-to-face for Spanish and French ■ German and Latin will approve LEVEL 1 online courses only if a Face-to ■ face option is unavailable Get 80% or better on the NASD language acceleration exam prior to start of ○ school Test is specific to language and level of the course be “replaced” ■
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