PTHS Student Handbook 2021-2022

32 What types of assessments may be used during the Field-Based Experience and On-line Learning? Interim and Summative Assessments Interim assessments are periodically used to measure progress while summative assessments are comprehensive and less frequent. Interim assessments allow teachers to guide and track learning. In addition, they help paint a portrait of what students know and understand as well as topics students are having difficulty grasping. Summative assessment certifies learning. Generally, educators administer a summative assessment near the end of an instructional unit to help them answer the question, “What did students learn?” A wide array of assessment instruments are used for summative assessment, including: • end-of-unit tests and end-of-course tests • performance tasks/simulations • portfolios A student may earn credits toward high school graduation from any approved and accredited junior college, an approved correspondence program, the Illinois Virtual High School, Apex Learning, and/or accredited high school programs. Prior to enrolling, students must have administration/counselor approval. Approval may not be given for a class already offered by PTHS that can be placed in the student’s schedule. Graduation credit will be awarded upon successful completion of these courses; however, no GPA credit will be calculated for courses taken for credit recovery. Students taking a course through an approved junior college must successfully complete at least a two (2) semester hour course to receive a half (1/2) credit towards fulfilling their high school graduation requirements. Payment of any tuition/cost for this coursework is the responsibility of the student. This policy may be modified on an individual basis for any student with administrative approval. ACCELERATED PLACEMENT The District provides for an Accelerated Placement Program (APP) for qualified students. It provides students with an educational setting with curriculum options that are usually reserved for students who are older or in higher grades than the student. Accelerated placement includes but may not be limited to: accelerating a student in a single subject and grade acceleration. Participation is open to all students who demonstrate high ability and who may benefit from accelerated placement. It is not limited to students who have been identified as gifted or talented. Please contact the principal for additional information. DUAL CREDIT COURSES Pontiac Township High School is proud to offer dual credit courses with both Heartland Community College and Parkland College. If students are interested in participating in the dual credit courses they need to prepare for this experience almost a year in advance. Students are required to meet placement test scores and prerequisites. Students can obtain appropriate score placement based on official ACT, SAT, or ACCUPLACER scores. If students need to take or retake placement tests, this process needs to be completed before set deadlines. • oral examinations • research reports OTHER CREDIT COURSEWORK