Code: IDAE

160-4-2-.05 MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM CRITERIA.

(1) DEFINITIONS.

(a) Academic classes - instruction in English and language arts, reading,

mathematics, science and social studies. Instruction in foreign language may be

included as academic classes at the discretion of the local school system.

(b) Academic team - an interdisciplinary team of teachers of academic classes with

common planning time who share a common group of students.

(c) Common group of students - a group of students assigned to an academic

team.

(d) Common planning - planning for instruction, student needs, and modifications

of student groupings or schedules during the students’ instructional day by academic

teams for a common group of students. Such planning may include parent

conferences and participation in professional development.

(e) Connections (exploratory) classes - instruction beyond the academic classes

that is designed to integrate and apply the skills and concepts taught in the academic

classes by reinforcing critical reading, writing and thinking skills.

(f) Remediation - academic instruction designed to bring students not performing

on grade level, as defined by the Office of Student Achievement, to grade level

performance.

(2) REQUIREMENTS FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM FUNDING.

(a) The middle school program shall be contained in a school, staffed by a full-time

principal, which houses grades six, seven or eight, or any combination thereof.

(b) The middle school program shall have academic teams.

(c) The middle school program shall provide each academic team a minimum of 55

consecutive minutes for common planning.

(d) Each academic team shall provide its common group of students a minimum of

five hours of instruction in academic classes. Each academic team shall have control

over the academic instructional time and schedules of its common group of students.

160-4-2-.05 (Continued)

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(e) A local system may include foreign language instruction as an additional

academic class or as a Connections class. If foreign language is included as an

academic class, class sizes for academic classes must be followed. Foreign language

taught as an academic class must be taught by a teacher certified in the language.

(f) Beyond the minimum of five hours of academic instruction, the local board of

education shall have the authority to schedule academic classes or Connections

classes for the remainder of the day.

(g) Except as provided below, each middle school student shall complete at least

one Connections class each grading period or term.

1. Any student shall be allowed to take an additional academic class instead of a

Connections class at the request of the parent or guardian, subject to availability.

2. Any student performing below grade level may receive additional academic

remediation instead of taking a Connections class.

3. The local board shall determine the number of instructional contact hours for

each Connections class.

(h) All Connections class offerings shall be made from the list of state-funded

subjects in Rule 160-4-2-.20 List of State-Funded K-8 Subjects and 9-12 Courses for

Students Entering Ninth Grade in 2008 and Subsequent Years. All subjects or

courses shall adhere to the requisite content standards as delineated in the Georgia

Performance Standards. In addition, all subjects and courses offered as Connections

classes shall conform to one of the following areas:

1. Agricultural/Environmental/Technical Education. Courses in agricultural and

environmental education are designed to develop awareness of the scope and

importance of agriculture, ecology, conservation, agribusiness, and the basic use of

the equipment and technologies related to agricultural and environmental

preservation. Courses in technology education are designed to develop awareness of

and gain practical experience with a variety of technologies essential to modern

society, such as robotics, electronics, aeronautics, computer-aided design, and

computer numerical control systems which are used in areas such as aviation,

construction, communications, engineering, and manufacturing.

2. Business and Information Technology Education. Courses in business and

information technology are designed to develop awareness of the importance and

scope of business in areas such as entrepreneurship, finance, international business,

management, and marketing. Students develop awareness of the rapidly evolving

fields of information technology, e-commerce, and computer skills necessary for

living, learning, and working in the modern era of electronic communication and

ready access to information.

160-4-2-.05 (Continued)

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3. Communication/Performing/Visual Arts Education. Courses in fine arts and

exploratory foreign language are designed to enable students to learn the basics of

other languages and acquire an understanding of the cultures of other countries.

Courses

in performing and visual arts develop student knowledge and skill in drama, art,

instrumental music, and vocal music.

4. Home/Careers/Community Education. Courses in family and consumer sciences

and career connections courses are designed to develop knowledge and skills in areas

such as nutrition, household safety, consumer decision making, family

responsibilities, and community responsibilities and service. Career connections

courses develop an awareness of broad career fields, learning interests and aptitudes

related to educational and career alternatives, and build understanding of the

academic prerequisites for postsecondary education and future careers.

5. Physical/Health Education. Courses in physical and health education are

designed to provide students with the opportunity to learn the information and skills

necessary to be active and healthy now and for their entire lives. Students also learn

cooperation and teamwork skills that can be applied in family, school, work, and

community situations.

(i) Connections classes shall count toward promotion requirements.

(j) Pass-fail grades are prohibited in academic classes and Connections classes.

Authority: O.C.G.A. § 20-2-240; 20-2-290; 20-14-33.

Adopted: September 8, 2011 Effective: September 28, 2011