Franklin Township Public Schools OFFICE OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION
1755 Amwell Road Somerset, New Jersey 08873
Daniel C. Loughran Phone: 732-873-2400 Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Fax: 732-873-8416
June 26, 2017 Dear Parents/Guardians and Students: Our district’s administrative leadership has been engaged in a deeply reflective process this school year as we examine our students’ access to the outstanding courses we offer in the Franklin Township Public Schools. As a result of this work, our district supervisors and directors have come to a shared understanding that it is best practice to review district placement criteria on an ongoing basis to determine whether these criteria help us effectively place students into our Gifted & Talented, Honors, Advanced Placement, and Concurrent Enrollment Program (CEP) courses. At this time we would like you to know that we have carefully examined the placement criteria in our various academic content areas and have made revisions to many of them. Attached to this letter, please see our current placement criteria. Research indicates that when a student has the desire to be challenged in an upper level course and embraces the extra time and effort it takes to succeed in such a course, more often than not the student succeeds. It is for this reason that we encourage students and their families to take advantage of our waiver process, as follows: If a student wishes to be placed in one of the district’s upper-level courses but has not quite met the placement criteria, he or she should ask his/her parent or guardian to reach out to one of the district supervisors listed on the attached document to express this desire. The supervisor/director will consider the request and may reach out for further communication with the student, his/her family, the student’s counselor, the student’s teacher, the principal, and any other appropriate stakeholders to consider the best placement for the student. Please keep in mind that, for schools to complete their scheduling for the following year, all waiver requests should be made no later than July 20th this summer. By all means, if you wish to discuss your child’s recent performance and current placement, please contact the appropriate supervisor. If additional information is needed, please also feel free to contact the Office of Curriculum and Instruction. Thank you, and may you enjoy a healthy and happy summer recess! Sincerely, Daniel Loughran
FranklinTownshipPublicSchoolsCriteriaforPlacementin
AdvancedPlacement,Honors,andConcurrentEnrollmentProgramCourses:RevisedApril30,2017
Thisdocumentisintendedtoserveasaneasyreferencetoolforstudentsandtheirparents.AcademicSupervisorsandDirectorswillplacestudentsinthecoursesbelowbasedonthesecriteria,butitisalsoimportantforstudentstoknowthateachdepartmenthasa“waiver”process,soiftheyaremotivatedtoenrollinacourseforwhichtheyhavenotmettheseautomaticplacementcriteria,studentsarestronglyencouragedtoreachouttotheirteacherand/ortheappropriatecontentareasupervisorlistedbelowtohaveadiscussionaboutwhethertheyoughttobereconsideredforplacementinanyoftheseAdvancedPlacement,Honors,orConcurrentEnrollmentProgramcourses.
ContentAreaSupervisors/Directors:
English,Grades6-8:Dr.CarolynArmstrong([email protected])
English,Grades9-12:Dr.KarenSchubert-Ramirez([email protected])
Fine,Visual,andPerformingArts:Ms.RobertaMitchell([email protected])
GiftedandTalented,GradesK-5:Mr.DavidHeras([email protected])
Math,Grades6-12:Ms.NubejaAllen([email protected])
Science:Mr.EricSiegal([email protected])
SocialStudies:Ms.PhyllisBruno([email protected])
WorldLanguages,6-8:Ms.JulieOchoa([email protected])
WorldLanguages,9-12:Ms.DanaKaras([email protected])
ENGLISHCOURSES
PlacementintoEnglishHonors,Grades6-8
StudentsareplacedinHonorsEnglishinoneoftwoways:
� StudentscurrentlyinEnglishHonorswithagradeof>85inthefirstsemesterForstudentswhoarenotcurrentlyplacedinHonors,placementisdeterminedviamultiplemeasures:
� MostrecentPARCCELALiteracyScore;whenaPARCCscoreisnotavailable,aMid-YearColdReadAssessmentwillbeusedinlieuofaPARCCscore
� Highestgradeonawritingassessmentinfirstsemester� Firstsemesterreportcardgrade� Teacherrecommendation
PlacementintoEnglishHonors,Grades9-12
StudentsareplacedinHonorsEnglishinoneoftwoways:
� StudentscurrentlyinEnglishHonorswithagradeof>85inthefirstsemesterForstudentswhoarenotcurrentlyplacedinHonors,placementisdeterminedviamultiplemeasures:
� MostrecentPARCCELALiteracyScore;whenaPARCCscoreisnotavailable,aMid-YearColdReadAssessmentwillbeusedinlieuofaPARCCscore
� Highestgradeonawritingassessmentinfirstsemester� Firstsemesterreportcardgrade� Teacherrecommendation
PlacementintoAPEnglishLanguageandComposition(11thgrade)and/orAPEnglishLiteratureandComposition(12thgrade)
StudentsareplacedinAPEnglishcoursesinoneoftwoways:
� StudentscurrentlyinHonorsorAPEnglishwithagradeof>85inthefirstsemesterForstudentswhoarenotcurrentlyplacedinHonorsorAPEnglish,placementisdeterminedviamultiplemeasures:
� MostrecentPARCCELALiteracyScore;whenaPARCCscoreisnotavailable,aMid-YearColdReadAssessmentwillbeusedinlieuofaPARCCscore
� Highestgradeonawritingassessmentinfirstsemester� Firstsemesterreportcardgrade� Teacherrecommendation
PlacementintotheConcurrentEnrollmentProgram(CEP)EnglishCourse,CEP12.StudentscanearnuptosixcreditswithRaritanValleyCommunityCollegewitha“C”orhigherinthecourse.
ForplacementintoCEP12:
� StudentsneedtopasstheRVCCplacementtestandpaytheRVCCcoursefee.
FINE,VISUAL,ANDPERFORMINGARTSCOURSES
Grades5and6
Criteria
DanceTroupe � AuditionTheatreArtsSpringMusical � Audition
Grades7and8
Criteria
AdvancedDance
� Audition� and/orTeacherRecommendation
TheatreArtsFallPlay/SpringMusical � Audition
Grades9-12
Criteria
HonorsPianoI-IV
� Teacherrecommendation� Audition
ArtIVHonors
� PrerequisiteArtIIIHonors� Grade>67
ArtIIIHonors
� Prerequisite:ArtIIHonors� Grade>67
ArtIIHonors
� Prerequisites:Art1AandArt1B� Grade>67
MarchingBandHonors
� 8thgradeband� TeacherRecommendation
WindEnsembleHonors
� SymphonicBandGrade>67� Audition� Teacherrecommendation
OrchestraHonors
� FreshmanOrchestraGrade>67� TeacherRecommendation/Audition
ConcertChoirHonors
� Audition
GuitarIIIHonors
� Audition
JazzandClassicalGuitarHonors
� Audition
ActingforFilmandTelevisionHonors
� DramaII� AspectsIIGrade>67� Teacherrecommendation
PlacementintoAdvancedDance
� PrerequisiteIntermediateDance� Audition� TeacherRecommendation
PlacementintoAPMusicTheory
� TeacherRecommendation
PlacementintoAdvancedPianoI-IV
� Audition� Teacherrecommendation
PlacementintoAdvancedSculptureStudioI,II,III
� Prerequisite:SculptureIIGrade>67
PlacementintoAPArtHistory
� PlacementRubric
PlacementintoTheCompany(Dance)
� Threeyearsofpreviousdanceclasses� Audition� TeacherRecommendation
PlacementintoSymphonicBand
� FreshmanBand,Grade>67� TeacherRecommendation
GIFTEDANDTALENTEDPROGRAM
PlacementintoGiftedandTalentedPullOutProgramming
StudentsareidentifiedandrecruitedforGiftedandTalentedprogrammingbasedonthefollowingcriteria:
� i-Readyachievementscoresabovegradelevelexpectations� i-Readygrowthscoresofoneyear'sexpectations� Mathassessmentscoresinthetop10%� Writingassessmentscoresabovegradelevelexpectations� Teacherrecommendation
MATHCOURSES
PlacementintoAdvancedMath6andAdvancedMath7
StudentsareplacedinAdvancedMath6orAdvancedMath7inoneoftwoways:
� StudentscurrentlyinAdvancedMaththathavemaintainedanaverageof>80ForstudentswhoarenotcurrentlyplacedinAdvancedMath,placementisdeterminedviaweightedpointsassignedtomultiplemeasures:
� MarkingPeriodAverage(10%)� BenchmarkAssessmentAverage(35%)� FluencyAssessmentAverage(15%)� IOWAAlgebraAptitudeTest(30%)� PARCC(5%)� WorkHabit(5%)
PlacementintoHonors7thGradeAlgebra1
StudentsareplacedintoHonors7thGradeAlgebra1inoneoftwoways:
� StudentscurrentlyinAdvancedMath6thathavemaintainedanaverageof>80ForstudentswhoarenotcurrentlyplacedinAdvancedMath6,placementisdeterminedviaweightedpointsassignedtomultiplemeasures:
� MarkingPeriodAverage(10%)� BenchmarkAssessmentAverage(35%)� FluencyAssessmentAverage(15%)� IOWAAlgebraAptitudeTest(30%)� PARCC(5%)� WorkHabit(5%)
Placementinto8thGradeAlgebra1
Studentsareplacedinto8thGradeAlgebra1inoneoftwoways:
� StudentscurrentlyinAdvancedMath7thathavemaintainedanaverageof>80ForstudentswhoarenotcurrentlyplacedinAdvancedMath7,placementisdeterminedviaweightedpointsassignedtomultiplemeasures:
� MarkingPeriodAverage(15%)� BenchmarkAssessmentAverage(40%)� FluencyAssessmentAverage(30%)� PARCC(5%)� WorkHabit(10%)
Placementinto8thGradeHonorsGeometry
Studentsareplacedinto8thGradeGeometryHonorsaccordingtothefollowingcriteria:
� StudentscurrentlyinHonors7thGradeAlgebra1thathavemaintainedanaverageof>80
PlacementintoHonorsGeometry
Studentsareplacedinto8thGradeGeometryHonorsaccordingtothefollowingcriteria:
� Studentsthathavemaintainedagradeaverageof>90intheircurrentmathcourse.� Studentshavemaintainedanassessmentaverageof>85intheircurrentmathcourse.
PlacementintoHonorsAlgebra2
StudentsareplacedintoHonorsAlgebra2accordingtothefollowingcriteria:
� Studentsthathavemaintainedagradeaverageof>90intheircurrentmathcourse.� Studentshavemaintainedanassessmentaverageof>85intheircurrentmathcourse.
PlacementintoHonorsPre-Calculus
StudentsareplacedintoHonorsPre-Calculusaccordingtothefollowingcriteria:
� Studentsthathavemaintainedagradeaverageof>90intheircurrentmathcourse.� Studentshavemaintainedanassessmentaverageof>85intheircurrentmathcourse.
PlacementintoHonorsCalculus
StudentsareplacedintoHonorsCalculusaccordingtothefollowingcriteria:
� Studentsthathavemaintainedagradeaverageof>75inPre-Calculus.� Studentshavemaintainedanassessmentaverageof>80inPre-Calculus.
PlacementintoAPCalculusAB
StudentsareplacedintoAPCalculusABaccordingtothefollowingcriteria:
� Studentsthathavemaintainedagradeaverageof>90inPre-Calculus.� Studentshavemaintainedanassessmentaverageof>85inPre-Calculus.
PlacementintoAPCalculusBC
StudentsareplacedintoAPCalculusBCaccordingtothefollowingcriteria:
� Studentsthathavemaintainedagradeaverageof>90inCalculusAB� Studentshavemaintainedanassessmentaverageof>85CalculusAB
PlacementintoAPStatistics
StudentsareplacedintoStatisticsaccordingtothefollowingcriteria:
� Studentsthathavemaintainedagradeaverageof>80ineitherHonorsGeometry,HonorsAlgebra2,orHonorsPre-Calculus.� Studentshavemaintainedanassessmentaverageof>80ineitherHonorsGeometry,Honors
Algebra2,orHonorsPre-Calculus.
SOCIALSTUDIESCOURSES
PlacementintoUnitedStatesHistoryIHonors
StudentsmustmeetTWOofthefollowingcriteria:
� PARCCELALiteracyScore>4� Gradeof>90inSocialStudies8� TeacherRecommendation
PlacementintoUnitedStatesHistoryIIHonors
StudentsmustmeetTWOofthefollowingcriteria:
� PARCCELALiteracyScore>4� Gradeof>87inUnitedStatesHistoryIStandardor>85inUnitedStatesHistoryIHonors� TeacherRecommendation
PlacementintoAPUnitedStatesII
StudentsmustmeetTWOofthefollowingcriteria:
� PARCCELALiteracyScore>4� Gradeof>87inUnitedStatesHistoryIStandardor>85inUnitedStatesHistoryIHonors� TeacherRecommendation
PlacementintoAChangingWorldHonors
StudentsmustmeetTWOofthefollowingcriteria:
� PARCCELALiteracyScore>4� Gradeof>87inUnitedStatesHistoryIIStandardor>85inUnitedStatesHistoryIIHonors� TeacherRecommendation
PlacementintoAPWorldHistory
StudentsmustmeetTWOofthefollowingcriteria:
� PARCCELALiteracyScore>4� Gradeof>87inUSHistoryIIStandardor>85inUSIIHonors� TeacherRecommendation
PlacementintoAPGovernmentandPolitics,APMicro/MacroEconomics
� OpenEnrollment
SCIENCECOURSES
PlacementintoHonorsPhysics
StudentsmustmeetTWOofthefollowingcriteria:
� PARCCMathScore>4� Gradeof>85inGrade8Science� TeacherRecommendation
PlacementintoAdvancedPlacementPhysics1
StudentsmustmeetTWOofthefollowingcriteria:
� Gradeof>90inGrade8Science� APPhysicsIPlacementTestScoreof>80%� TeacherRecommendation
PlacementintoHonorsChemistry
StudentsmustmeetTWOofthefollowingcriteria:
� >75%inHonorsPhysicsor>87%inBiology� PARCCscoreofa4or5inMath� TeacherRecommendation
PlacementintoHonorsBiology
StudentsmustmeetTWOofthefollowingcriteria:
� >75%inHonorsChemistryor>87%inChemistry� PARCCscoreofa4or5inMath� TeacherRecommendation
PlacementintoAPBiology,APEnvironmentalScience,andAPChemistry
� OpenEnrollment
WORLDLANGUAGESCOURSES
PlacementintoSpanishforNativeSpeakers-MiddleSchool
Studentsmustmeetthefollowingcriteria:
� >8onWrittenTest� >9onOralInterview� TeacherRecommendation
PlacementintoSpanishforHeritageSpeakers-MiddleSchool
Studentsmustmeetthefollowingcriteria:
� >4onWrittenTeacherRecommendation� >4onOralInterview� TeacherRecommendation
PlacementintoSpanishIIHonors,SpanishIVHonors,FrenchIVHonors,LatinIIIHonors
� Completionofpreviouscoursewitha90%orhigheror� TeacherRecommendation� Proficientscoreonamultiple-measuresincludinginterpretive,interpersonal
communications,andpresentationalassessments.
PlacementintoSpanishIIIHonors,SpanishVHonors,APSpanish,
FrenchVHonors,APFrench,andLatinIVHonors
� Completionofpreviouscoursewitha80%orhigheror� TeacherRecommendation� Proficientscoreonamultiple-measuresincludinginterpretive,interpersonal
communications,andpresentationalassessments.