6A-1.099822: School Improvement Rating for Alternative Schools.
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the rule development is to amend the definition of “home school” used in calculating a school improvement rating, pursuant to current governing statute. Additionally, rule development will clarify the establishment of a minimum number of students to ensure a statistically reliable calculation. The effect of this amendment changes how students are credited back to a “home school” in calculating school grades.
SUBJECT AREA TO BE ADDRESSED: School Improvement Ratings for Alternative Schools.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 1008.34(8), 1008.341(6) FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 1008.34, 1008.341 FS.
IF REQUESTED IN WRITING AND NOT DEEMED UNNECESSARY BY THE AGENCY HEAD, A RULE DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:
TIME AND DATE: February 11, 2009, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
PLACE: Department of Education, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 1703/1707, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT AND A COPY OF THE PRELIMINARY DRAFT, IF AVAILABLE, IS: Juan Copa, Chief, Bureau of Research and Evaluation, 325 West Gaines Street, Room 844, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400
To request a rule development workshop, please contact: Lynn Abbott, Agency Clerk, Department of Education, (850)245-9661 or e-mail lynn.abbott@fldoe.org or go to https://app1.fldoe.org/rules/default.aspx
THE PRELIMINARY TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT IS:
6A-1.09982 School Improvement Rating for Alternative Schools.
(1) through (4) No change.
(5) Procedures for Calculating School Improvement Ratings for Alternative Schools.
(a) The school improvement ratings for alternative schools will be considered fully implemented with the following accountability elements:
1. The school improvement rating shall be based on a comparison of student learning gains for the current year and previous year. The learning gains definition will be consistent with the learning gains definition for school grades defined in Rule 6A-1.09981, F.A.C. The school improvement rating shall be calculated for each alternative school that has chosen to be rated by this method and to ensure statistical reliability of results in accordance with Section 1008.34(3)(a)1., F.S., has:
a. A Has a minimum of ten (10) eligible students with valid Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) scores in reading in the current and two previous years; and
b. A Has a minimum of ten (10) eligible students with valid Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) scores in math in the current and two previous years.
2. through 6. No change.
(6) No change.
(7) Definition of Home School. Pursuant to Section 1008.34(3)(c)3., F.S., “hHome sSchool” is defined as the school to which the student would be was attending when assigned if the student were not assigned to an alternative school, pursuant to Section 1008.34, F.S.
(8)(a) Limitations on Students Credited Back. Student performance data will only be credited back to the home school if:
1. The student was referred to the alternative school by the home school; and
2. The student’s grade level at the alternative school is within the same grade configuration as the student’s home school.
(a)(b) Eligible students’ performance will be included in the calculation of the home school’s overall percentage of students making learning gains in reading and in math.
(b)(c) Eligible students’ performance will be included in the home school’s grade calculation as long as the student is enrolled in a grade level at the alternative school that is offered by the student’s home school.
Specific Authority 1008.34, 1008.341 FS. Law Implemented 1008.34, 1008.341 FS. History–New 4-14-08, Amended_________.