(a) The Department shall identify 4 levels of individual student performance relative to the state content standards on the assessments administered pursuant to § 151(b) and (c) of this title to fulfill the following 3 important functions:
(1) Determine the level or levels of individual performance sufficient to demonstrate a proficient level of performance relative to the state content standards;
(2) Determine the level or levels of individual performance sufficient to demonstrate superior and proficient performance meriting recognition for outstanding and standards-level achievement pursuant to subsection (c) of this section; and
(3) Determine the level or levels of individual performance inadequate to demonstrate a proficient level of performance relative to the state content standards and which warrant requiring students performing at such levels to participate in academic improvement activities as specified in subsection (d) of this section.
(b) The Department may approve other individual student indicators that may be used to determine a student’s performance relative to the state content standards. Such indicators shall:
(1) Provide a measure of individual student performance relative to the state content standards; and
(2) Include performance on district-administered assessments pursuant to subsection (e) of this section, performance on end-of-course assessments, student classroom work products, or classroom grades supported by evidence of student work that demonstrates a student’s performance level pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
(c) The Department will promulgate rules and regulations for scholarships awarded through the Michael C. Ferguson Achievement Awards program prior to 2016. Unused funds will revert to the Scholarships Fund for the Delaware Higher Education Office to allocate among the various programs under Chapter 34 of this title, with prior approval of the Secretary of Education, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Controller General, to meet state priorities, achieve program objectives, and respond to student demand.
(d) The Department shall require that students whose performance on the reading and mathematics assessments administered pursuant to § 151(b) and (c) of this title is inadequate to demonstrate a proficient level of performance relative to the state content standards, benchmarked to the extent practicable to accurately reflect the point in the school year that students actually are administered the statewide assessment, participate in academic improvement activities as follows:
(1) A third, fifth or eighth grade student whose performance on the reading portion of the assessments administered pursuant to § 151(b) and (c) of this title is Below the Standard, Level II on the statewide assessment, shall not advance to the next grade unless:
a. The student’s parent or parents or guardian and the school district agree on an individual improvement plan (which may include but is not limited to summer school, before and/or after school instruction, Saturday school, and/or tutoring) to remediate those areas of weakness demonstrated by the state assessment. A student’s parent or parents or guardian shall have the right to appeal the contents of an individual improvement plan to an academic review committee established pursuant to this section;
b. If no agreement pursuant to paragraph (d)(1)a. of this section can be reached, the student shall attend a summer school program and demonstrate a proficient level of performance on the state reading assessment prior to the commencement of the next school year. If at the end of summer school the student still does not demonstrate proficiency on the state reading assessment the student shall be retained unless an academic review committee composed of educators from the student’s district determines that the student has demonstrated proficient performance relative to the state content standards using evidence from other indicators approved pursuant to subsection (b) of this section; or
c. The student has previously been retained for 2 years because of academic performance.
(2) A third, fifth or eighth grade student whose performance on the reading portion of the assessments administered pursuant to § 151(b) and (c) of this title is Well Below the Standard, Level I on the statewide assessment, shall not advance to the next grade unless:
a. The student attends a summer school program and demonstrates a performance of Below the Standard, Level II, or above on the state reading assessment prior to the commencement of the next school year; and if the student’s performance is at Below the Standard, Level II, the student’s parent or parents or guardian and the school district agree on an individual improvement plan in accordance with paragraph (d)(1)a. of this section.
b. An academic review committee composed of educators from the student’s district determines that the student has demonstrated proficient performance relative to the state content standards using evidence from other indicators approved pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. Such evidence shall only be used if the student has not demonstrated a proficient level of performance on the reading assessment after at least 1 retake of the state assessment at a grade level; or
c. The student has previously been retained for 2 years because of academic performance.
d. Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraphs (d)(2)a. and (d)(2)b. of this section, a student may advance to the next grade level without attending summer school if an academic review committee composed of educators from the student’s district or charter school determines that the student has demonstrated proficient performance relative to the state content standards using evidence from other indicators approved pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(3) An eighth grade student whose performance on the math portion of the assessments administered pursuant to § 151(b) and (c) of this title is Below the Standard, Level II on the statewide assessment, shall not advance to the next grade unless:
a. The student’s parent or parents or guardian and the school district agree on an individual improvement plan (which may include but is not limited to summer school, before and/or after school instruction, Saturday school, and/or tutoring) to remediate those areas of weakness demonstrated on the state assessment. A student’s parent or parents or guardian shall have the right to appeal the contents of an individual improvement plan to an academic review committee established pursuant to this section;
b. If no agreement pursuant to paragraph (d)(3)a. of this section can be reached, the student shall attend a summer school program and demonstrate a proficient level of performance on the state mathematics assessment prior to the commencement of the next school year. If at the end of summer school, the student still does not demonstrate proficiency on the state assessment, the student shall be retained unless an academic review committee composed of educators from the student’s district determines that the student has demonstrated proficient performance relative to the state content standards using evidence from other indicators approved pursuant to subsection (b) of this section; or
c. The student has previously been retained for 2 years because of academic performance.
(4) An eighth grade student whose performance on the math portion of the assessments administered pursuant to § 151(b) and (c) of this title is Well Below the Standard, Level I on the statewide assessment, shall not advance to the next grade unless:
a. The student attends a summer school program and demonstrates a performance of Below the Standard, Level II, or above on the state mathematics assessment prior to the commencement of the next school year; and if the student’s performance is at Below the Standard, Level II, the student’s parent(s) or guardian and the school district agree on an individual improvement plan in accordance with paragraph (d)(3)a. of this section.
b. An academic review committee composed of educators from the student’s district determines that the student has demonstrated proficient performance relative to the state content standards using evidence from other indicators approved pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. Such evidence shall only be used if the student has not demonstrated a proficient level of performance on the state mathematics assessment after at least 1 retake of the state assessment at a grade level; or
c. The student has previously been retained for 2 years because of academic performance.
d. Notwithstanding the requirements of paragraphs (d)(4)a. and (d)(4)b. of this section, a student may advance to the next grade level without attending summer school if an academic review committee composed of educators from the student’s district or charter school determines that the student has demonstrated proficient performance relative to the state content standards using evidence from other indicators approved pursuant to subsection (b) of this section.
(5) With respect to a student whose performance continues to be deficient after completion of the retention year, the Department may not require that the student’s district retain the student at grade level for another year, but shall require that the district develop an individual improvement plan pursuant to Department regulations. The Department regulations must require that each individual improvement plan identify a specific course of study for the student and the academic improvement activities the student must undertake in order to improve the student’s ability to a proficient level. Academic improvement activities may include mandatory participation in summer school, extra instruction and mentoring programs.
(6) For a student whose performance on the statewide assessment pursuant to § 151(b) and (c) of this title at grade 6 or 7 in mathematics or grade 4, 6 or 7 in reading whose score assessment does not meet a proficient level of performance relative to the state content standards, the local school district shall, in consultation with the student’s parent or parents or guardian, develop an individual improvement plan (which may include but is not limited to summer school, before and/or after school instruction, Saturday school and/or tutoring) to remediate those areas of weakness demonstrated by the assessment. To the extent the statewide assessment is not available, local school districts shall strive to use other means to identify students deemed in danger of failing to reach a proficient level of performance relative to the state content standards on assessments administered pursuant to § 151(b) and (c) of this title and shall develop individual improvement plans for those students to remediate identified areas of weakness.
(7) The Department may require school districts to undertake academic improvement activities with respect to students whose performance is inadequate to demonstrate a proficient level of performance relative to the state content standards on an assessment pursuant to § 151(b) and (c) of this title. Such activities may include extra instruction or mentoring programs.
(8) Any academic review committee established pursuant to this subsection shall include at least 1 teacher from the grade level to which the student may be promoted.
(9) An individual student’s mandatory participation in summer school pursuant to paragraph (d)(2) or (4) of this section may not be excused on more than 2 occasions by the use of other indicators.
(e) The Department shall identify and certify alternative assessments to determine whether students have reached the same proficient level of performance as is required on the reading and mathematics assessments administered pursuant to § 151(b) and (c) of this title. Any alternative assessment shall be equally rigorous, valid and reliable as the assessments administered pursuant to § 151(b) and (c) of this title. Approval of any alternative assessment by the Department shall require the joint approval of the Secretary and the State Board of Education who shall issue written findings supporting the Department’s decision to approve an alternative assessment. Nothing contained in this subsection shall prevent an individual school district, with approval of the Department, from establishing alternative assessments to determine whether students have reached the same proficient level of performance required on the reading and mathematics assessments administered pursuant to § 151(b) and (c) of this title. Any alternative assessments proposed by an individual district shall, prior to approval, be found by the Department to be equally rigorous, valid and reliable as the assessments administered pursuant to § 151(b) and (c) of this title. Approval of any alternative assessment by the Department shall require the joint approval of the Secretary and the State Board of Education, who shall issue written findings supporting the Department’s decision to approve an alternative assessment. Any district that receives such approval shall provide such continuing evidence of the alternative assessment’s reliability and validity as the Secretary and State Board of Education shall require to ensure compliance with this subchapter.
(f) School districts may require any student to participate in academic improvement activities specified for the student by the district in accordance with the Department rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to this section or in accordance with the district’s own policies. A student who refuses to comply with a district requirement for participation in academic improvement activities shall be subject to the same disciplinary actions as for other acts of absenteeism or truancy.
(g) Those students administered alternate assessments pursuant to § 151(f) of this title shall not be subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section.
(h) The Department shall promulgate rules and regulations to ensure the proper administration of the assessment pursuant to § 151 of this title. Such rules and regulations shall ensure that assessments are administered in accordance with security procedures which guarantee the validity of the results of such assessments.
(i) The Department shall promulgate rules and regulations to implement this section.