Acceleration 5-27.1

School Board of the City of Virginia Beach
Regulation 5-27.1

STUDENTS

Acceleration

1. Kindergarten to First Grade

   In special cases, the school may refer students for placement from kindergarten to first grade during the school year. In these cases, the following procedures will apply.

   1. The school will compile and assess relevant data, such as:
      1. Evaluation of reading and numeracy readiness by the reading and math specialist;
      2. Demonstration of mastery of the kindergarten curriculum;
      3. Observation of social maturity by the kindergarten teacher; and
      4. Evaluation of the student's health by the school nurse.
   2. The principal will review the data to approve/disapprove the referral to the Department of Teaching and Learning.
   3. Representatives from the Department of Teaching and Learning will observe the pupil in the classroom, review the data, and make a tentative recommendation to the principal.
   4. If the student is recommended for first grade placement, the principal will proceed as follows:
      1. Advise the parent/legal guardian of tentative recommendation; and
      2. Evaluate the placement after a two-week period.
2. Advancement

   In some instances, students may need to be advanced to the next grade level or to the next level of a course. In those instances, the following procedures will apply.

   1. Elementary School and Middle School (Grades K-8)
      1. The school personnel will collect and analyze appropriate information, such as:
         • Health and attendance records;
         • Grades;
         • Achievement test data if available;
         • Teacher's anecdotal records;
         • Parental observations; and
         • Student's reactions to the possible acceleration.
      2. The principal in consultation with staff members and the adult student or parent or legal guardian of a minor child will reach a decision on the placement.
   2. Level-to-level

      In cases involving a move from elementary school to middle school or middle school to secondary high school, the two principals will review the data to reach a joint decision.

   3. Secondary (Grades 9-12)
      1. Advancement at the secondary level will be on a course-by-course basis.
      2. The type of data used will include objective-referenced tests for a particular subject or achievement test data in that area.
      3. The decision for advancement will be made by the principal in consultation with the teacher and the department chairperson.

Approved by Superintendent: July 16, 1991
Revised by Superintendent: June 11, 2001
Scrivener’s Amendments: January 27, 2014
Revised by Superintendent: July 20, 2021