§ 20-14-33 - Indicators of quality of learning in individual schools and school systems; comparison to state standards; rating schools and school systems; providing information; uniform definition o - Georgia Statutes

O.C.G.A. 20-14-33 (2010)
20-14-33. Indicators of quality of learning in individual schools and school systems; comparison to state standards; rating schools and school systems; providing information; uniform definition of "dropout" and "below grade level"; annual review

(a) The office shall adopt and biennially review, and revise as necessary, indicators of the quality of learning by students in an individual school and school system.

(b) The performance indicators of student achievement and school performance must be based on information that is disaggregated with respect to ethnicity, sex, disability, language proficiency, and socioeconomic status and must include:

(1) The results of assessment instruments required under Code Section 20-2-281, aggregated by grade level and subject area;

(2) Dropout rates for each school;

(3) Student attendance rates for each school;

(4) School completion rates for each school;

(5) The percentage of graduating students who attain scores on the Georgia high school graduation test required under Code Section 20-2-281 that are equivalent to a passing score on the test instrument until such time as the Georgia high school graduation test is discontinued as provided in Code Section 20-2-281;

(6) The percentage of graduating students who meet the course requirements established for the recommended high school program by State Board of Education rule;

(7) The percentage of students taking end-of-course assessment instruments under Code Section 20-2-281;

(8) The percentage of high school students who pass the end-of-course assessment instrument in core subjects;

(9) The results of the Scholastic Assessment Test or the ACT Assessment;

(10) The percentage of students taking alternate assessments under subsection (d) of Code Section 20-2-281;

(11) The average time that a student placed in an early intervention program remains before attaining grade level status and returning to regular status; and

(12) Any other indicator the office adopts.

(c) Performance on the indicator shall be compared to state standards, progress on improved student achievement, and comparable performance. The standards for comparison shall be established by the office as provided in Code Section 20-14-31. Data and information regarding the standard shall be included in the annual report provided for in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 20-14-27.

(d) The office shall establish individual school and school system ratings for each public school and school system in this state for annual academic performance on the assessment instruments required under Code Section 20-2-281.

(e) Each school system shall provide all student performance data and all other student school completion and attendance data to the Department of Education's educational information system in accordance with rules and timelines established by the State Board of Education.

(f) The office shall develop and the State Board of Education shall adopt a uniform definition of "dropout." All schools and school systems shall report student dropout information to the Department of Education's educational information system in accordance with rules and timelines established by the state board as provided in subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-167. Each school system shall cooperate with the office in determining whether a student is a dropout under this subsection and shall adopt the uniform definition of "dropout." Data and information regarding the establishment of the definition and the tracking of dropout and school completion data shall be included in the annual report provided for in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 20-14-27.

(g) The office shall develop and the State Board of Education shall adopt a uniform definition of a "below grade level" student for purposes of placing students in the early intervention program under Code Section 20-2-153 and for purposes of tracking these students for accountability purposes. Data and information regarding the establishment of the definition shall be included in the annual report provided for in paragraph (2) of subsection (a) of Code Section 20-14-27.

(h) The office shall annually review the performance of each school and school system on the indicators in subsection (b) of this Code section and determine whether a change in the school or school system rating status of the school or school system is warranted.