Gulf County School District News

Annual revisions to the Student Progression Plan and the Code of Conduct are made to reflect legislative mandates and the student progression/code of conduct committee’s recommendations.  At the July 22 board meeting, the following revisions were approved:

Student Progression – Elementary: Kindergarten through third grade students are expected to score 80 percent or better on the District determined sight word list in order to be considered for promotion.

Middle school: Students must have a semester of Civics to include state and federal government.  Reading grades may be merged with language arts grades when determining a passing grade.

High School:  If a transfer student produces a viable transcript from an accredited school for courses for which he/she has already earned credit, the principal may waive the state required End of Course Exam and accept the transfer credit at face value.

Students in grade nine will take Algebra I or Algebra IA and 1B and must take an End of Course Exam which will constitute 30 percent of the final grade.  As 10^th-grade students they will take an End of Course Exam in Geometry and Biology and the exam will constitute 30 percent of the final grade.  The EOC exam will be computer based unless a paper-pencil test is deemed more appropriate on a student’s IEP. The exam will be given by the state the week of May 16, 2011. 

Scoring a high Level 3 and up on FCAT or EOC exams is added to the criteria to be considered when enrolling in Honors courses.

If a student enrolls in a dual enrollment class and the district purchases the textbook and the student does not complete the course, the student and the parent/guardian must reimburse the district for the text.

State approved concordant scores for a high school diploma are ACT: Reading – 18; Math – 15 or SAT: Reading – 420; Math – 370.

American History is now called U.S. History and the Major Area of Interest requirement is revoked.

Code of Conduct: Student conduct which will result in disciplinary action – 1) Tampering with school security cameras; 2) Bullying: physical, verbal or electronic; 3) Possession or use of drug paraphernalia.

Excusable absences: religious holidays; illness or injury; death within the family; legal reasons; pre-approved vacation with student academic requirements, but with the understanding the principal has the right to revoke pre-approval if the student has been absent a questionable number of days; insurmountable conditions that may arise.  The principal may rule on special situations.  A doctor’s note may be required if a student is continually sick or repeatedly absent from school.

Make-up Work for Out of School Suspensions and Unexcused Absences: Students who are suspended out of school are remanded to the custody of the student’s parent with specific homework assignments to complete (S.1003.01) and may earn a grade up to 59.  The student will be given the number of days suspended plus 1 to complete assignments.  Students who have unexcused absences may complete homework and class work assignments, but receive a grade no higher than 59.  They will have the number of consecutive days absent plus one to turn in their work.

The automatic 59 after 5 unexcused absences and the appeal process have been revoked.

FCAT reading data for grades 3-10 is reported district-wide by number and percent for Levels 1 and 2: Grade 3 Level 1- 15 (10 percent), Level 2- 12 (8 percent); Grade 4 Level 1 – 12(8 percent), Level 2 – 18 (12 percent); Grade 5 Level 1- 21 (14 percent), Level 2- 17 (11 percent); Grade 6 Level 1- 23 (15 percent), Level 2- 23 (15 percent); Grade 7 Level 1-15 (9 percent), Level 2- 24 (14 percent); Grade 8 Level 1- 24 (18 percent), Level 2- 36 (27 percent); Grade 9 Level 1- 33 (21 percent), Level 2- 51 (33 percent); Grade 10 Level 1- 38 (31 percent), Level 2- 38 (31 percent).

Students retained in grades 3-10 are also reported district-wide: Grade 3 – 7 (5 percent); Grade 4 – 4 (3 percent); Grade 5 – 0 (0 percent); Grade 6 – 1 (.006 percent); Grade 7 – 2 (.01 percent); Grade 8 – 1 (.007 percent); Grade 9 – 10 (6 percent); Grade 10 – 9 (6 percent).

Third grade promotion for Good Cause: Portfolio Assessment- 8; ESE – 1; Previously Retained 2 years- 1.

For more information about your child’s school you may access the Florida Department of Education at www.fldoe.org, the district’s webpage, or the school’s webpage via www.gulf.k12.fl.us. Look under “Documents” for the Student Progression Plan, Code of Conduct, the Parent Involvement Plan, School Improvement Plans and other documents of interest. Due to the delay in the release of school grades and AYP status, the School Accountability Report will also be delayed, but will be available upon request at each school and on the district’s website.