'Empowered for Success'

Gateway/End-of-Course Implementation and Intervention Policies and Procedures

    Johnson County High School
510 Fairground Lane
Mountain City, Tennessee  37683

Proposed:  Fall, 2001

Adopted by Johnson County Board of Education:  November 8, 2001

Development Committee Members:

Aleta Duncan, JCHS Science Department

Chairperson John Mast, JCHS Math Department

Chairperson Wanda Payne, JCHS English Department

Chairperson Betty Brown, Johnson County High School Principal

David Timbs, Johnson County Schools K-12 Instructional Supervisor 

Johnson County High School

Gateway/End-of-Course Testing Program Implementation and Intervention Policies and Procedures

  I.  THE BACKGROUND On October 29, 1998, in compliance with TCA 49-1-608 and TCA 49-6-6001(a)(1), the State Board of Education, accepted the recommendation of the High School Testing Advisory Committee and designated ten high school courses for the development of end-of-course examinations. The Board’s recommendation was subsequently affirmed by the Select Oversight Committee on Education of the General Assembly.In the High School End-of-Course Tests Policy, the Board stipulated that beginning with students entering the 9^th grade in 2001-2002, students must successfully pass examinations in three subjects: Algebra I, Biology I, and English II. These examinations later became known as gateway examinations. The other seven areas to be tested are Math Foundations, Geometry, Algebra II, Physical Science, Chemistry, English I, and U.S. History.Beginning in 2001-2002, the Department plans to administer the gateway tests three times annually to accommodate students completing work in the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Tests will not be given other than at these scheduled times.

Results from these assessments, including the three gateway examinations, will become components in the accountability process which is used to gauge the effectiveness of school systems and schools. Use of the results of individual student performance on the exams is spelled out under Elements of the Program, section 1.d, as appended by the board on September 20, 2002.