Kenton County School District Prep and Prep+ Questions and Answers:
What is the Prep and Prep+ Academic Program?
Prep and Prep+ is a student selected program based on required criteria for identification that will provide a
rigorous and challenging curriculum in Language Arts and Math for students in grades 5 and above. It is
intentionally outlined course by course to provide students an accelerated content program. The program is
designed so students will be placed into AP (Advanced Placement) or dual credit courses at the high school level
with the goal for the student to receive college/university credit before graduating from high school.
Why does Kenton County School District want to implement this accelerated Math and Language Arts program?
The Kenton County School District wants to ensure our identified high-achieving students are receiving a well
designed, rigorous curriculum based on the Kentucky Core Academic Standards. The focus is on Reading and
Math. The curriculum will provide student opportunities to think critically, problem solve and take ownership of
their learning.
When will the Program services begin?
The Prep and Prep+ Program began implementation in the 2012-2013 school year. Student selection in the
program begins at grade 5. Schools will be reviewing fourth grade fall, winter and spring MAP Assessments and
KDE norm referenced assessments to determine which students will meet the criteria to be placed in the program.
Can you explain the MAP Assessment used as criteria for identification in the program?
MAP is the acronym for Measure of Academic Progress. MAP measures a student's progress or growth in school.
MAP assessment in the areas of reading, and math will be used to determine student identification in the Prep and
Prep+ Program.
The criteria for admission include MAP RIT Scores. What do RIT scores mean?
The scale used to measure a student’s progress is called the RIT scale (Rasch unIT) named after the individual who
formulated the process. The RIT scale is an equal-interval scale much like feet and inches on a yardstick. It is used
to chart a student’s academic growth from year to year.
How were the 75 percentile for Prep and the 96 percentile for Prep+ determined as criteria for identification?
It was determined that 75 percentile would be a minimum requirement for identification to ensure academic
success of students in this content accelerated program. Students in the range of 96 percentile to 99 percentile
have scored exceptionally high on the MAP assessment. This accelerated group will be working on challenging
curriculum above grade level at an extremely accelerated pace. Prep+ identification will include a highly select
number of students with extremely high ability in the content area as evidenced by test scores and gifted
identification in Math and/or Language Arts Reading. MAP RIT scores for the current school year only will be used
as criteria for identification in the Prep or Prep+ Program.
Why is K-Prep data used to identify students for Prep or Prep+ courses?
We know it is important to review other assessment measures of student success beyond MAP to receive a
complete overview of the student‘s academic ability within the content area. KDE (Kentucky Department of
Education) requires all of our students in grades three through eight to be tested in math and reading during the
Spring Kentucky Core Academic Test Window. Students are selected for the Prep and/or Prep+ Program in the
spring of the current school year.
No exceptions will be made to the minimum required testing criteria for entrance into the Prep/Prep+
Programs.
What if an identified student’s RIT Score drops below the 75 percentile for Prep courses or 96 percentile for
Prep+ courses?
(Implementing 2017-18 school year) To remain in the ELA Prep Program each year, students must meet two of the
following three scores: 1.) Distinguished Score in Reading on K-Prep Test, 2.) 75 percentile on one MAP in Reading,
3.) 70th percentile or above for another MAP score in Reading. To remain in the Math Prep Program each year,
students must meet two of the following three scores: 1.) Distinguished Score in Math on K-Prep Test, 2.) 75
percentile on one MAP in Math, 3.) 70th percentile or above for another MAP score in Math.
Once a student is identified in the highly accelerated Prep+ Program, the student will not be automatically
eliminated from the Prep+ Program if the student’s MAP score falls below 96 percentile. A Prep+ student’s
success will be monitored by the teacher, and if at any time within the first quarter or trimester of the school year
the student’s progress is in question, the school administrator, teacher, and parent will conference to evaluate the
student’s ability to maintain the academic success needed for the rigorous demands of this accelerated pace.
Can a student ever move into the Prep or Prep+ Program once the 2016-17 school year has begun?
A student who has not been identified in the Prep or Prep+ program at the beginning of the school year cannot
move into the program after Fall, Winter or Spring MAP assessment scores reach 75 percentile for the Prep
Program or 96 percentile for the Prep+ Program. The teacher will differentiate for the student’s academic needs in
the student’s current school year assigned course.
Can a student ever skip a course outlined in the Prep or Prep+ course outline?
If assessment scores show the increase to move a student from Prep to Prep+ after spring MAP assessment, a
conference will take place with the student/parent to set up the acceleration option in the best interest of the
student. A plan will be developed to assure the student is introduced to and masters necessary content that may
be skipped in the acceleration move. The school administrator will be responsible for setting up the conference
with the student/parent, teacher and administrative person. In math Prep and Prep+, it is important to note that
once students enter high school level courses beginning with Algebra 1, the pathway for courses is credit based.
Eligibility for a course is NOT based on grade level but rather on the successful completion of the prerequisite
courses.
Can a student ever move from Prep+ courses to Prep courses?
If a student believes his/her high level of acceleration in the Prep+ Program is a determent to his/her academic
success, the student/parent can request a conference to evaluate the concerns and establish the best placement
for the student.
Can a middle school student receive high school credit?
A student in accelerated Algebra 1 or Accelerated Geometry as a middle school student will receive high school
credit if the student maintains a final grade of C- or better. This un-weighted course will be calculated into the
High School GPA.
How will students be serviced in the Prep Program?
At the elementary level, students may work as a cluster group within their classroom or be placed together in an
accelerated class. At the middle and high school level, students will be scheduled in an accelerated advanced class
limited only to students that meet the Prep Program criteria. (Refer to the Math and ELA Program Acceleration
Plan.)
How will students be serviced in the Prep+ Program?
Math - At the elementary 5th grade level or the middle school 8th grade level, students identified in Prep+ will be
transported by Kenton County school buses to the feeder middle or high school to participate in their math
content accelerated course with other accelerated students at the middle or high school. If the high school course
is being offered at the middle school, 8th grade students will remain at the middle school. Students in the middle
school 6th or 7th grade level will remain at their middle school and be content accelerated to the appropriate
course with accelerated students at the next grade level. (Refer to the Math Acceleration Plan)
ELA – At the elementary level, students may work as a cluster group within their classroom or be placed together
in an accelerated class. At the middle and high school level, Prep+ students will remain in an accelerated Prep
Program class at their grade level. ELA content acceleration for Prep+ students will be delivered by cluster
grouping or independent study designed with increased complexity to meet their learning needs. (Refer to the ELA
Acceleration Plan.)
What if my student meets the criteria for Prep or Prep+ but does not want to accelerate at the pace documented
in the Acceleration Plan?
In Kenton County, we believe academic student success is based on a curriculum in line with a student’s ability and
achievement. We will always encourage our students to be challenged by a rigorous curriculum with high content
standards. The student/parent can conference with the elementary principal regarding this issue.
How will a new student to the Kenton County School District who does not have any assessment data be
evaluated for entrance into the Prep and Prep+ Program?
Once the student has enrolled in our district, the student will be administered the MAP assessments. If a student
reaches the required MAP criteria, a conference will take place with the school administrator and the
parent/guardian to review the student’s current academic performance and potential placement in the Prep or
Prep+ Program.
What is the SpringBoard Curriculum?
SpringBoard is the Kenton County School District math and language arts curriculum for grades six through Algebra
II in math and grade six through twelve in ELA selected to provide a challenging curriculum to all of our students.
SpringBoard is the College Board’s official Pre-AP program developed to provide a roadmap for attaining the
knowledge and skills students require for success in Advanced Placement courses and in college-level work.
Can you explain Dual Credit for high school students?
A Dual Credit course is a college or university credited course taught to a student on the high school campus or at
a college/university campus. The student will be enrolled in the college or university and will receive both high
school credit and college credit upon successful completion of the course. The course can be taught by a
college/university approved high school teacher who meets the college/university requirements or a professor on
the college/university campus.
Who should we contact at the school level to answer any of our questions regarding Prep and Prep+?
Your school principal will be the person reviewing the final criteria for student placement and scheduling the
classes. They will be the first contact if you have any questions. All administrative staff and teachers will have
knowledge of the program and can answer questions you may have regarding Prep and Prep+.
What should we do if a student or parent/ guardian has concerns about student placement and/or progress?
Students and/or parents/guardians can request a conference to evaluate student course progress as necessary.
Please contact your student’s school administrator so he/she can schedule a conference with the teacher and
parent/guardian.