Actor

Action

Superintendent or designee

Annually notifies the community, including community-based organizations, providers of out-of-school programs, parent(s)/guardian(s), students, and school personnel, about the:

1. APP

2. Process for referring a student for possible evaluation for accelerated placement, including:

   1. Steps to be taken to make a referral;

   2. Individual(s) to whom a referral may be submitted;

   3. Deadlines by which a referral must be made; and

   4. Information that must be provided in the referral.

3. Methods used to determine whether a student is eligible for accelerated placement.

4. Strategies used to reach groups of students and families who have been historically underrepresented in accelerated placement programs and advanced coursework.

Provides such notification:

1. By varied communication methods, such as student handbooks and District/school websites; and

2. In multiple languages.

Actor

Action

Parent(s)/Guardian(s), Licensed Educational Professionals, Student (with written consent of a parent/guardian), or Peer (through a licensed educational professional who has knowledge of the student’s abilities).

In addition to the above-noted individuals, referrals for possible early entrance to kindergarten or first grade may also come from: Preschool Educator, Non-public Kindergarten Teacher, Pediatrician, or Psychologist who knows the student.

Refers a student for possible evaluation for accelerated placement using the process set forth in this procedure. 

Student Services Director, Building Principal, or designee

Within [insert number] school days after receiving a referral, determines whether an evaluation for accelerated placement is warranted. 

To determine whether an evaluation is warranted, may review existing data about the student, utilize screening data, and conduct preliminary procedures such as observation of the student, consultation with the teacher or other individual making the request, and a conference with the student.

Provides the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) with written notice of the referral determination. For cases not warranting an evaluation, the process ends here. For cases warranting an evaluation, proceed to Evaluation Process, below.

Actor

Action

Student Services Director, Building Principal, or designee

Convenes an Evaluation Team (consisting of District teacher(s) and school support personnel, as appropriate) having the knowledge and skills necessary to: 

1. Identify multiple valid, reliable indicators to use during the evaluation; 

2. Identify appropriate assessment instruments; 

3. Administer said assessments; and 

4. Interpret evaluation results. 

The composition of the team may vary depending upon the type of acceleration requested and other relevant factors.

Evaluation Team

Identifies multiple valid, reliable indicators and any assessment instruments appropriate to use during the evaluation. 

Prepares a written document identifying the evaluation components. This may occur without a meeting.

Student Services Director, Building Principal, or designee

Provides parent(s)/guardian(s) with written notification of the Evaluation Team’s conclusions regarding the evaluation components and requests parent(s)’/guardian(s)’ written consent to conduct the evaluation.

Parent/Guardian

Provides written consent to conduct the evaluation.

Evaluation Team

Completes the evaluation within [insert number] school days following the date of receipt of parent(s)’/guardian(s)’ written consent to conduct the evaluation. 

Ensures the evaluation is nondiscriminatory and follows policy 7:10, Equal Educational Opportunities.

Actor

Action

Evaluation Team

1. Convenes a meeting with parent(s)/guardian(s) to review evaluation results and determine eligibility for the APP. Provides parent(s)/guardian(s) with written notice of eligibility determination. 

2. If the student is found eligible for the APP, prepares and provides parent(s)/guardian(s) with a written plan detailing the type of acceleration the student will receive and strategies to support the student.

3. If the student is not found eligible for the APP, provides parent(s)/guardian(s) with written notice of their right to appeal the eligibility determination, within five calendar days after receiving the determination, by submitting a written request to the Superintendent.

Parent/Guardian

1. If desired, within [insert number] calendar days after receiving written notice that student is not eligible for the APP, submits written appeal to the Superintendent.

Superintendent

1. Within [insert number] calendar days after receiving the written appeal request, reviews the case, and provides parent(s)/guardian(s) with written notice of his/her decision. 

2. The Superintendent’s decision is final.  

Actor

Action

Student Services Director, Building Principal, or designee

Identifies students who qualify for automatic enrollment in the “next most rigorous level of advanced coursework” (NMR) offered by the District, for the following school term, by reviewing State assessment results in English language arts, mathematics, and science.

For English language arts, the NMR (23-24) includes courses in    English, social studies, humanities, or related subjects.

For a student entering grade 12, the NMR in English language arts or mathematics must be a dual credit course (as defined in the Dual Credit Quality Act, 110 ILCS 27/5), an Advanced Placement course (as defined in the College and Career Success for All Students Act, 105 ILCS 302/10), or an International Baccalaureate course.  The same is true for all other subjects, except that the NMR may also include an honors class, an enrichment opportunity, a gifted program, or another program offered by the District.

Provides written notice to parent(s)/guardian(s) of a qualified student of the student’s eligibility for automatic enrollment in the NMR level of advanced coursework offered by the high school that:

1. Identifies the course(s) the student is eligible for, including the location and schedule, if known, of the course(s);

2. Informs the parent(s)/guardian(s) of the option to instead enroll the student in alternative coursework that better aligns with the student’s postsecondary education or career goals;

3. Identifies the alternative coursework the student is eligible for, including the location and schedule, if known, of the alternative coursework; and

4. Requests that the parent(s)/guardian(s) notify the District within [insert number] calendar days of their course enrollment decision.

Parent/Guardian

Provides the District with written notice of their course enrollment decision within [insert number] calendar days after receiving the written notice. 

Actor

Action

Student Services Director, Building Principal, or designee

Submits by July 31 each year to the Ill. State Board of Education (ISBE) through the Student Information System (SIS):

1. Demographic information for each student participating in the APP;

2. Student participation in the APP; and

3. Type of APP placement.

Review disaggregated data on APP participation and successful completion rates to address gaps among demographic groups in accelerated placement opportunities.

Develops, on or before 11-1-22, a plan to expand access to the APP and to ensure the teaching capacity  necessary to meet any increased demand.