In a major shift from current practice, 8th-graders who will be 15 prior to Dec. 1 will not be sent directly to high school because of their age, says Davis. Instead, these students will be assigned to one of six regional transitional centers, housed in high schools, for at least one semester. The following January, they will retake the Iowa and, if they raise their scores, will go to regular high schools. Under the previous Board of Education, the promotion policy specifically stated that students should not be held back only because of low scores. Elementary and high schools must now notify parents in writing if their child is to receive a failing grade, has posted low scores on standardized tests or has more than 10 unexcused absences.
Principals can still request waivers for students.
Veronica Anderson is a Chicago writer.