Student Achievement/Interventions

• Tier 1 provides effective instruction in every classroom for every student based on the Georgia state-adopted curriculum. It includes academic content areas, speech, behavior, and social development.
• Tier 2 supports provide pre-planned interventions for students who are not successful in Tier 1.
• Tier 3 supports are guided by a Student Support Team. When students continue to make inadequate progress with Tier 1 & 2 supports, educators and parents meet to determine more individual and intensive interventions. Students who are still unsuccessful may be referred for special education and related services.

Honor Points

Honor Roll

Honor roll recognizes those students who have consistently performed in an outstanding manner. The honor roll for all schools is published at the end of each grading period. The Effingham County Board of Education has established the following guidelines for making the honor roll:

• Grades 1-12: Any student who has an Incomplete for a course may not be recognized as making Honor Roll until the Incomplete is resolved.
• Grades 1-5: Students must achieve a combined overall average of 89.5 or higher in Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Studies, with no individual grade lower than an 85.
• Grades 6-8: Students must achieve a combined overall average of 89.5 or higher for all courses, with no
  individual grade lower than an 85.
• Grades 9-12: Students must achieve a combined overall average of 89.5 or higher for all courses. Courses taken through Dual Enrollment and/or online are not calculated to determine Honor Roll.

Dual Enrollment and online courses are not included in honor roll calculations. If a student is enrolled all day in these types of classes, they will not be included in honor roll announcements.

Awarding Units And Transferring Credit

The Effingham County Board of Education shall award units of credit for middle school courses that are based on state-adopted curriculum for grades 9-12. Credits for each successfully completed high school course are posted on the high school transcript. Units of high school credit are awarded at the middle school level for specific courses and included in the high school grade point average (GPA). Credits earned in middle school will satisfy graduation requirements, but the credits do not count towards HOPE GPA. If the parent declines the credit, the student must retake the course or the equivalent. The Option to Decline Credit Form is available for parents in the high school counselors’ office. This form must be signed and completed within five days after the last day of the school year for which the credit was earned. If the student and parent elect to have this credit removed from his/her high school transcript, they must understand that the student will not have the opportunity to have the credit reinstated after the credit has been removed from the official transcript. The student may retake the course at high school to receive credit.

High School Credits are awarded at the completion of a course. Students who transfer from the Effingham County School System prior to the completion of the course will not receive credit for the course as credits are not prorated at the high schools.

Students withdrawing from an Effingham County school, especially those who plan to return to a high school in our school system, should carefully review the system policy in order to determine how credits will be reviewed for acceptance in the awarding of credits upon re-enrollment. Only courses accepted for transfer credit will count towards the system’s graduation requirements.

Earning Units of Credit by Testing-Out

Earning Units of Credit In Lieu of Enrollment for Foreign Language Courses

Students whose native language is not English may be considered to have met the foreign language requirement by exercising the credit in lieu of enrollment option to determine if the student is proficient in their native language. A formal examination shall be administered and criteria met as evidence of proficiency.

High School Online Courses

Online education is a flexible instructional delivery system encompassing any kind of learning that takes place via the Internet. Online learning is not appropriate for all students. Students should not be placed in an online course for logistical reasons only. Extensive consideration and guidance are required prior to registering for
online courses. Georgia Virtual School (GAVS) is the pre-approved provider for online courses.

Effingham County School District and Georgia Virtual School are accredited by COGNIA, a non-profit international accrediting agency. Courses offered by GAVS are aligned with the Georgia Department of Education standards. Courses offered by other online course providers may or may not be aligned with the state standards. Other online course providers may or may not be accredited. Other providers of online courses must be evaluated on an individual basis and must be approved by the Executive Director of Curriculum and Technology before enrolling in the online coursework. Students must consult with their counselor to obtain approval prior to registering for any online course, including GAVS. Effingham County School District will only award credit for pre-approved online providers and courses.

Parents and guardians are required to participate in the discussion with the student’s counselor prior to student enrollment in an online program or course. The counselor will need to verify that the course(s) satisfies the graduation requirements for the student. Students should be aware of schedules and deadlines for the courses
selected. Students who wish to enroll in online education classes via GAVS, or any other online course provider, must follow the Effingham County School District’s academic calendar even when GAVS or other online course provider’s calendar is different.

Students must complete the Request for Online Course Approval Form from the school’s counselor’s office and return it to the student’s counselor. After the counselor has received the Request for Online Course Approval Form, and the instructional supervisor has approved the registration, the student may register for the desired online course.

All online courses must be taken at the high school during the regular school day.

Effingham County School District high school students must enroll with a full schedule each semester, which may include one or two GAVS courses unless the student is participating in senior privilege or dual enrollment. Students can only enroll in two online courses per semester. If a student needs additional courses, it must be approved by the Office of Curriculum and Instruction.

Once a student has selected, been approved, and enrolled in an online course, the student must complete the online course. If during the completion of the first semester of an online course, the student determines they would be more successful in a traditional classroom, they should discuss this with their counselor. Arrangements may be made for a student to complete the second semester of a year-long course in a traditional classroom.

GAVS courses taken as part of the regular school day schedule are eligible for district funding. Any course(s) taken in addition to a regular schedule will be ineligible for district funding and all costs associated with this course must be paid by the parent or guardian. If a student drops a course after the approved drop date, the parent or guardian is responsible for the cost of the course. If approved to take an online course by a provider other than GAVS, the parent or guardian assumes responsibility for all costs associated with said course.

The school district will receive a grade from the online course provider after a student completes the online course. Students enrolled in a course through GAVS, or any other online course provider, are responsible for taking any standardized tests associated with that course. These tests may include Advanced Placement (AP) exams or End-of-Course assessments (EOC). The school testing coordinator is responsible for scheduling standardized testing for students taking online courses. Students in a course that requires an EOC will receive
a final grade from the online provider reflecting 90% of the course score. The other 10% shall be from the EOC score and added to their grade. School administrators shall transcribe and award credit to students who successfully complete work through pre-approved online courses only. Students taking Advanced Placement courses will receive five points added to the students’ final course grade. The district’s grading scale is as follows: A=90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; F= Below 70 (Failing). Students’ transcripts will indicate courses taken
as online courses. If the online course provider only provides letter grades, the letter grades will be correlated to numerical grades and recorded on the high school transcript and be calculated in the GPA as follows: A = 99, B = 89, C = 79, D = 70, F = 69, WF = 69.

In order to ensure accurate information about eligibility and requirements for high school sports and NCAA with regard to online courses, it is highly recommended that the student and parent be in close contact with the online provider, the NCAA, and the school’s athletic director. Eligibility for post-secondary athletics is the responsibility of the student and parent as the district takes no responsibility in determining if online courses meet or do not meet NCAA requirements which may be above entrance requirements for college admission.

Work-Based Learning

This program of study provides a junior or senior with an opportunity to learn a highly skilled occupation at a work site while earning high school credit. The student will follow a structured plan including on-the-job training and classroom instruction. On-the-job training affords the participating student the opportunity to master skills
and competencies of a given trade. Applications and guidelines are available from the Work-Based Learning Coordinator or the CTAE Supervisor at each high school.

High School Required Assessments

The Georgia Milestones End-of-Course (EOC) shall be used as the final exam in the course assessed by the Georgia Milestones EOC.

Students earning credit for a course assessed by a Georgia Milestones EOC will have their final grade calculated by the following formula: 90% final numerical score for the course plus 10% numerical score on the EOC. All students enrolled in Algebra, Biology, Literature and Composition II, and United States History* will be required to take the EOC. Middle school students enrolled in Honors Physical Science are required to take the HS Physical Science EOG in lieu of the Grade 8 Science End-of-Grade (EOG). Middle school students enrolled in Enhanced Algebra will take both the Algebra EOC and the Grade 8 Mathematics EOG. The Algebra Georgia Milestones EOC numerical score will count as 10% of the Enhanced Algebra course grade.

All students enrolled in Algebra, Literature and Composition II, and Biology must take the EOC regardless of pursuing Advanced Placement (AP) or dual enrollment.

Local End-Of-Course Tests (LEOCTs) shall carry the same weighted calculation as Georgia Milestones End-of-Course (EOC) assessments; therefore, the final grade calculation is 90% of the final numerical score for the course plus 10% of the numerical score on the LEOCT.

Assessments

 State Assessments

Georgia Milestones Assessment System

The Georgia Milestones Assessment System (GMAS) is a comprehensive assessment system spanning from grade three to high school. It assesses students’ proficiency in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies, aligning with state-adopted content standards.

Students in grades three through eight take the GMAS End-of-Grade (EOG) assessments. The chart below shows the GMAS EOG assessments given in each grade level.

In grades three, five, and eight the Georgia Milestones EOG results are one piece of evidence which informs promotion and retention decisions in the area of English Language Arts and Mathematics (grades five and eight only). If needed, students who do not meet state proficiency in English Language Arts and Mathematics in the above mentioned grades are afforded a retest opportunity.

Eighth grade students enrolled in Enhanced Algebra: Concepts and Connections and high school students enrolled in Algebra: Concepts and Connections, Literature and Composition II, Biology, or United States History* take the GMAS End-of-Course (EOC) assessments. Students earning credit for a course assessed by a GMAS EOC assessment will have their final grade calculated by the following formula:

90% of the numerical score for the course plus 10% of the numerical score on the GMAS EOC. All students enrolled in Enhanced Algebra: Concepts and Connections, Algebra: Concepts and Connections, Biology, Literature and Composition II, or United States History*, regardless of pursuing Advanced Placement (AP) or dual enrollment, will be required to take the GMAS EOC. If a student is enrolled in one of these courses and does not take the GMAS EOC, the score will be recorded as a zero.

Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills

The Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS 2.0) serves as a formative assessment system integrated into classroom activities, designed to align with Georgia’s state content standards. It follows a progression-based approach, focusing on big ideas and learning progressions. This tool offers teachers real-time insights into students’ understanding, pinpointing their current knowledge, identifying areas for further growth, and facilitating ongoing monitoring of progress.

Georgia Alternate Assessment

The Georgia Alternate Assessment (GAA 2.0) is an individually administered assessment designed to gauge the proficiency of students with significant cognitive disabilities in mastering alternate achievement standards in English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies in grades three through eight and high school. The chart below shows the GAA 2.0 assessments given in each grade level.

WIDA Screener

The WIDA Screener is an English language proficiency assessment given to students that are new to the United States. The WIDA Screener score helps determine if a student meets the criteria of an English Learner (EL).

WIDA ACCESS and WIDA Alternate ACCESS

WIDA ACCESS is administered to all English Learners (Grade K-12) every year. The assessment is a standards-based, criterion-referenced English language proficiency test which assesses proficiency for both social and academic contexts. The WIDA Alternate ACCESS is an individually administered assessment for
English Learners (Grade K-12) with significant cognitive disabilities.

There is not an “opt out” option for state testing, as the above mentioned state assessments are mandatory. Should there be concerns about state testing, a parent/guardian should contact the school’s Testing Coordinator to discuss these concerns.

 Local Assessments 

Common Interim Assessments

Common Interim Assessments (CIAs) are locally designed assessments which are based on the Georgia Standards of Excellence for English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Foreign Language. CIAs are mandatory assessments given district-wide. CIAs are administered in English Language Arts and Mathematics in Grades 1-12, Science and Social Studies in Grades 4-12, and in Foreign Language in Grades 8-12 using the Pear Assessment Platform. The CIA scores are placed in a teacher’s grade book as a summative assessment.

End-of-Year Progress Check

The End-of-Year Progress Checks (EOYPC) are locally designed assessments given at the end of the school year for grades 1-2 to determine growth in English Language Arts and Mathematics. EOYPC scores are specifically used to determine student growth in one year’s time. These scores are not entered in a teacher’s grade book.

Local End-of-Course Tests

Local End-of-Course Tests (LEOCTs) are locally designed assessments that are administered in some high school courses that do not have a GMAS EOC or CIA assessment. The LEOCT scores shall carry the same weighted calculation as the GMAS EOC assessments; therefore, the final grade calculation is as follows:

90% of the final numerical score of the course plus 10% of the numerical score on the LEOCT.

Performance-Based Assessments

Performance-Based Assessments (PBAs) are locally designed assessments that are administered in most high school CTAE and Visual Arts second level pathway courses. PBA scores are placed in a teacher’s grade book as a summative assessment.

MAP Growth

The MAP Growth assessment measures student progress and proficiency in Reading and Mathematics over time. Administered three times annually, MAP Growth ensures an accurate assessment of student knowledge, regardless of grade level. MAP Growth is given in grades K-8, Foundations of Algebra, Algebra: Concepts & Connections.

Amira Screener

The AMIRA screener serves as Georgia’s state-approved, universal reading and dyslexia screening tool for students in kindergarten through third grade. Selected by the Georgia State Board of Education, AMIRA was chosen as the only free screener offered through the Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Strategy.
ECSD’s use of AMIRA aligns with Georgia’s HB 307, the Georgia Early Literacy and Dyslexia Act, which mandates universal screening for K-3 to identify characteristics of dyslexia and significant reading difficulties. AMIRA results are used to monitor students’ progress toward reading proficiency and to identify those who demonstrate the need for additional support in reading.

Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS)

GKIDS is a performance assessment designed to provide teachers with information about the level of instructional support needed by individual students enrolled in kindergarten and their readiness for first grade. All kindergarten students shall be assessed using the Georgia Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (GKIDS), including the GKIDS Readiness Check, during their kindergarten year as the school readiness assessment for first grade.

Optional Tests

Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT)

The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) is offered to middle and high school students. It is given once each October. Tenth graders seeking a regular education diploma take the test free of charge. Middle school and eleventh grade students may take the test for a small fee. Eleventh graders who take the test participate in the National Merit Scholarship competition.

Pre-ACT

The Pre-ACT may be taken during a student’s sophomore year. Results from the Pre-ACT provide an estimated ACT score, identify skills and knowledge required to succeed in college, identify areas where extra help is needed, and provide career areas that match the student’s interests.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is offered for a fee to any high school student. It is offered several times a year at various locations; check with the counselor’s office for more information. The SAT is not required for admission to Georgia two-year colleges or technical colleges.

American College Test (ACT)

The American College Test (ACT) is administered by the American College Testing Program, and measures educational development in the four subject areas of English, Mathematics, reading, and natural Sciences. The ACT is one of the two standard college entrance exams given at specified test centers throughout the year.

Advanced Placement Exams

Advanced Placement Exams are offered as a part of the AP Program. Students enrolled in AP classes may take the tests in May of each year. Students scoring a three or above on the five-point scale may receive college credit for that class.

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

The Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) is a group of 12 tests that measures aptitude in five separate career areas and is an indicator of the student’s qualifications for military occupations. Juniors and seniors may take the test.

Accuplacer

The Accuplacer is an on-line assessment available to measure students’ mathematics, reading, and writing skills and then report results immediately. Accuplacer is used as a placement test and is accepted by technical colleges throughout the state. Once the student has started taking each test and a low score is determined, the adaptive system can automatically reroute the student to the diagnostic section of the test and determine the specific areas in which the student is proficient or needs additional work. Students taking the test in their sophomore or junior year of school can use the Accuplacer results to revise their schedules to take the courses
necessary to improve any deficiencies.

Graduation and Scholarships

Graduation Requirements

Please see Effingham County Board of Education Policy IHF (Graduation Requirements), accessed via the link provided in the Appendix.

The issuance of a high school diploma to any student will be contingent upon the fulfillment of Board of Education and Georgia State Department of Education requirements. Any local system may require more than 23 units for graduation.

Effingham County School District High School Graduation Rule for freshman class entering fall 2017 and thereafter

The Effingham County Board of Education recognizes the importance of assuring an adequate educational opportunity for each student. This goal is to be supported by quality secondary school programs which promote personal development, academic growth, and career preparation. Such programs are to be based on a broad, flexible curriculum, which addresses each student’s needs, interests, and abilities.

The board defines as a major role of the high school the responsibility for providing the youth of Effingham County with opportunities to acquire and to apply basic skills necessary for a contemporary adult life. Such skills are defined as those which enable one to address effectively and efficiently the decisions and opportunities presented in a technological and free society.

Secondary school instructional delivery and support services shall reflect the high school graduation requirements and assist all students to develop their unique potential to function in contemporary society.

Purpose: This rule specifies high school programs of study that shall be offered by the Effingham County Board of Education and lists specific courses that meet core, required, or elective credits for students.

Requirements

The Effingham County Board of Education shall provide secondary school curriculum, instructional and support services that reflect the high school graduation and state assessment requirements and assist all students in developing their unique potential to function in society.

The Effingham County Board of Education requires that:

• Students who enroll from another state must meet the graduation requirements for the graduating cohort they enter and the state assessment requirements as referenced in Georgia Board of Education Rule 160-3-1-.07 (Testing Programs -Student Assessment).
• The awarding of unit credit for courses on the transcript of a transfer student shall be determined following a thorough review of the transcript and the student’s date of entry into school. (Board Policy JBC (4) (Awarding Units and Transferring Credit)).
• Students who enroll in the ninth grade for the first time in the 2018-2019 school year or thereafter shall meet the graduation requirements specified in this rule and the assessments specified in Georgia Board of Education Rule 160-3-1-.07 (Testing Programs - Student Assessments). If a student withdraws and re-enrolls, the student will be required to satisfy the graduation requirements for his or her cohort year.
• Both the fourth-year English Language Arts (ELA) course and the Personal Finance and Economics course are designated exclusively for a student’s fourth year of high school. Students are not permitted to enroll in these courses prior to their fourth year.

Early Graduation for Class of 2028

Students who are on track to graduate and can meet all state and local graduation requirements, including the successful completion of the required 24 units of credit, by December of their senior year may apply for Early Graduation. To initiate this process, students must consult with their school counselor during the spring of their junior year to complete the official Intent to Graduate Early Form and eligibility requirements for this opportunity. This form must be finalized and submitted to the school counseling office no later than May 1 of the student’s junior year. Approval is contingent upon a transcript review ensuring all academic obligations will be met by the requested December graduation date. Students must maintain a full-time schedule during their final fall semester; if a required course is not offered at the high school as a one-semester option, the student must complete that requirement via Dual Enrollment. Please note that failure of any such course will result in a grade of 69 for Fall Term and require the student to return for a full seven-period schedule in the spring.

Early graduates are no longer eligible to participate in spring athletics, extracurricular activities, or senior recognition programs such as Grad Bash, Senior Banquet, Awards Day, or Prom (though they may attend Prom as a guest of a current junior or senior). However, the student remains eligible to participate in May’s “Senior Week” activities with their cohort, including Graduation Practice, Class Night, Senior Walk, and the Graduation Ceremony. While final grade point average (GPA), Scholar Endorsement, STEM Endorsement, and Honor Graduate status for Early Graduates are determined in December, official class rank and honors, including Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and Honorarian, will be calculated in May alongside the full graduating class.