:,4 percent requirement, or at least; the federal AYP

:,4 percent requirement, or at least; the federal AYP benchmark, ha<h we not followed a recommenda*', tion by State officials that w0* not ‘double test’ 6 th and 7th< graders.”

Many schools gave theiif; sixth and seventh graders twQ< math tests: their grade level; test, and for those enrolled iflp advanced courses, Algebra I $r! Pre-Algebra tests.

Had Rappahannock ignore^ the state’s recommendaticfe! against double-testing its stut dents, the 51 students who took; the advanced math tests would' have also taken the grade levef. tests. 'M

If all 51 had taken an<r passed the grade level test^t RCES may have been fully; accredited for this year- depend” ing on the state’s “Accreditation!; Pass Rates,” which often differ; from other published rates. 4

“I feel that we cooperated’ with the state’s recommenda-' tion and our school, students^ teachers, parents, and the com? munity have to pay the price (accreditation, AYP) because of our cooperation” said ChappelL “Please, in the interest of faii^ ness to our school community, remove the 6 th and 7th grade tests from the equation foy accreditation for our school.” -

RCPS to add bus ::

route to congested

AmissviUe area r

Before the end of September, the RCPS plans to add a bus route in the AmissviUe area. *

Superintendent and Transportation Director Bob Chappell and Bus Shop Supervisor Tii$ Beahm are meeting with bus drivers from that area of the county to determine the best way to implement the change. *

Once details of the new route are finalized, the bu£ drivers of students on the routes affected by the change will hand out written notices for students to give to parents. *

Make-up Day for -

September 1 «

Due to the closure of schoqj on Sept. 1, school will be in session on Thursday, Oct. 12. The schools will operate on an early release schedule, with students dismissed at 1:00. ;

Parent- Teacher conferences will follow from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. and 6 p.m. -8 p.m.