Frequently Asked Questions
What is Proficiency Based Promotion?
Proficiency Based Promotion is a system which awards credit for students’ knowledge in the core curriculum areas, i. e., social studies, language arts, the arts, languages, mathematics, and science, through an assessment process. All students in grades 1-12 are eligible for Proficiency Based Promotion if they perform at the 90% level on designated assessments. Elementary or secondary students may advance one or more levels in the core curriculum areas.
Do we have to offer PBP?
Yes, it is required as part of House Bill 1017 beginning with the 1993-1994 school year.
How Will Parents/Students Be Informed about PBP?
Oklahoma Law requires annual notifications. Printed notices were sent to all schools for distribution this year. Information on PBP first became part of the student handbook in 1994.
How Many Times Can a Proficiency Demonstration Be Attempted?
The opportunity for proficiency assessment will be provided twice each school year.
What Will Be Required To Successfully Demonstrate Proficiency?
Proficiency for advancing to the next level of study will be demonstrated by a score of 90% or comparable performance on a proficiency criterion assessment and/or a performance assessment (or demonstration).
Before a decision is made to advance to the next grade, a team consisting of parent(s), administrator, counselor, and teachers will discuss social, emotional and intellectual needs of the pupil. Students who score above the 90 percentile in all core subject areas will be recommended to advance to the next grade level. Elementary students who score above the 90 percentile in a specific discipline will be appropriately accommodated at the next level.
Students will be monitored each year for appropriate placement to ensure continued advancement in the area in which they have demonstrated proficiency. Secondary students who score above the 90 percentile in a specific discipline will advance to the next appropriate course.
In What Subjects (tests) Are We Required By Law to Provide PBP Opportunities?
Language Arts/English, Science, Social Studies, Math, Foreign Language
Who Has “The Last Word”whether a Child is Promoted Based Upon Proficiency?
If the parent or guardian requests promotion or acceleration contrary to the recommendation of school personnel, the parent or guardian shall sign a written statement to that effect.
This statement shall be included in the permanent record of the student. A district level committee will be appointed to review the information and recommend to promote or reaffirm the site decision.
Parents have the right of appeal to the Board of Education. The Board of Education’s decision is final.
Who Will Administer, Score, Evaluate the Proficiency Criterion Exams?
Instructional Coordinators will administer the proficiency criterion assessment at the Administrative Center. Performance assessments or demonstrations will be administered at the individual site by professional staff members designated by the principal.
Who Will Evaluate the Proficiency Demonstrations?
A panel composed of the appropriate Instructional Coordinators/Department Heads and Teachers.
What Happens To Testing Records?
Successfully completed proficiency assessments become a part of the students’ permanent records. At the secondary level, credit (no grade) is recorded on the transcript (course name, credit by exam) and counts toward graduation (required by law). Failed attempts are not recorded or maintained in the students’ permanent records.
When Will Tests Be Offered?
The assessment process will be scheduled near the end of the spring semester and prior to the beginning of or early in the fall semester. Scheduled dates will be announced and published each year.
How Does the PBP Process Begin?
Applications are available at each school site. The completed application should be signed by the parent/guardian and returned to the school site. The school principal or designee reviews and recommends the application, attaches pertinent information (copies of cumulative record or transcript) and forwards the application to the appropriate Assistant Superintendent for Instruction.
What Tests Will Be Used for Demonstrating Proficiency?
•Content portion - a criterion test developed by Riverside Publishing Company will be used for most proficiency exams. In those courses where tests are not available from Riverside, criterion exams will be developed by district personnel under the leadership of the instructional coordinators.
•Performance portion - Instructional Coordinators/Department Heads decide upon an appropriate demonstration to indicate mastery of subject/course/grade Expected Learner Outcomes.
What is the Broken Arrow Academy?
The Broken Arrow Academy is an innovative school designed to meet the needs of high challenge students.
Students educated at the academy are assigned there if...
• The student is removed from his/her home school for disciplinary reasons, or
• The student is considered at risk of not being successful in his or her home school, or
• The student is at risk of not graduating with his/her class.
The Academy serves students in Grades 6 through 12 and is based on a therapeutic model. Students earn privileges through a level system. Good behavior, attendance, and successfully completing assignments permit students to progress through the program.
What is the Level System?
The Broken Arrow Academy uses a Level System for student academic progression. The Level System consists of four levels.
These levels are:
Outward Bound Level
Privilege Level
Transition Level
Orientation Level
Students who are placed at the Academy for disciplinary reasons must complete the level system before they will return to their home school. This means that a student who is placed at the Academy could serve more days than assigned and would not return to his/her home school until completing the level system. Students entering the Broken Arrow Academy are placed at the Orientation Level.
Students petition the faculty and staff to move from one level to the next. All faculty and staff members must agree that the student has made progress and met the requirements of each level before the student will be moved to the next level. Petitioning occurs each week on Wednesday, and new levels are posted by Friday morning.
Students who are absent during the petitioning will not be allowed to petition until the following week. Students may petition every two weeks. Petitions will be given to students in the first hour class, and collected during the last class of the day.
The Level System is designed so that students can earn rights and privileges as they progress. Along with these privileges, more responsibilities are given to the student. The student can move up the level system for good behavior and completing expectations, or can move down the level system for inappropriate behavior and not meeting expectations.
How are students placed at the Academy?
Students placed at the Academy must be presented to a placement committee consisting of administrators or counselors from the student’s home school, Academy administrator and counselor, central office administrators, and community agencies. Students and parents must attend an intake meeting with the Academy counselor. The intake process explains the Academy program and establishes the background, current life circumstances, and goals of all students entering the program.
Intakes are scheduled for Friday following the Wednesday placement meeting. Parents are notified by the home school of the time and date for the intake.
Students desiring to attend the Academy must present the request through their assigned school. Students and parents are encouraged to write a letter to the placement committee outlining personal reasons they want to attend the Academy.