The following placement guidelines were taken from the 2010 Manual for National French Contest Administrators.
Students With Learning Disabilities
I. Introduction
The following Eligibility
Rules include the criteria necessary to place most students in Le Grand
Concours. There are always
exceptions and borderline cases which the teacher and contest administrator
must decide on the basis of good judgment, fairness, and consistency.
The level at which the Contest Administrator registers a
student is irrevocable.
Therefore, in case of doubt, be sure to contact the National Chairman for
Eligibility before registering the student (see p. 11).
No student shall take the
same level of Concours more than once.
In particular, where a high school obliges all entering ninth graders
to take French 1, this rule applies and the student, who has already taken
Concours at level 1, will have the choice of taking level 2 or
abstaining for a year. If it is
discovered that a student has been registered at the same level two years in
a row (without having received prior written permission—see D and E below),
or that a student has entered the Concours at two different levels or
divisions for the same competition, that student’s registration shall be
nullified. Teachers and Contest
Administrators will keep registration records in order to prevent such
repeat registrations and to simplify record keeping from year to year.
Exceptions: (1) Level 5: see below II. E; (2) FLES students may take
the same level more than once.
II. Level Placement
A. FLES Level: Grades one through six
B. Level 01: Seventh and eighth graders, who began French in the fall of the current school year and who are not receiving high school level credit or equivalent for their French course. 01A = up to 1 previous year of French at school (FLES or any other French program); Level 01B = more than 1 previous year of French at school (FLES or any other French program). A student may enter Concours at level 01A/01B once only. See Grades 7 & 8 at a Glance, below
C. Levels 1-5: Students shall take Concours at the level which corresponds to the high school credit level assigned to the French course he or she is currently taking. Thus, for example, students at any school level who have begun French in the fall and who will receive high school credit or equivalent for French I at the end of the academic year will be placed in Concours level 1.
D. Levels 01 - 4: Contestants will be permitted to take the Concours at the same level two years in a row provided they submit evidence to the Contest Administrator, through their teacher, that they are repeating the same French course.
E. Level 5: Since this examination changes substantially each year and is quite demanding at this level, students may repeat level 5.
F.
Incorrect Placement:
It is the responsibility of the student to enter the correct
information on his or her answer sheet which leads to correct placement by
Level and Division. The
participating teacher is to verify the accuracy of placement and to refer it
to the Contest or Center Administrator who may elect to verify.
The ensuing level and division shall
be the ultimate determination in arriving at a National rank.
If, subsequent to the Contest, an error in placement is determined,
the original National rank shall remain valid.
The local chapter may re-compute rank for local statistical purposes.
III. Division Categories: Students may be entered at Divisions A, B, C, D, or E as determined by the Contest Administrator. For French programs on special calendars, or scheduling, or students in intensive programs that do not correspond to regular semester programs, check to see if the students can be entered in Division D or E. If the students does not match these categories, contact the National Chairman of Eligibility.
A.
Divisions A and B for levels 01, 1 and 2:
These two divisions at the first three levels permit fairer ranking of students
of differing French backgrounds.
Division B is not offered after level 2 since the Concours is more challenging
at the higher levels and early French experience will not give students any
measurable advantage over students who do not have any previous exposure.
1. Division A is for the student who has not lived with French-speaking parents, who has not attended a French school and who has not lived in a French-speaking community.
2.
Division B
is for:
a.
students who, after their sixth birthday, attended a school where French was the
language of instruction for a total of more than one semester but fewer than
four semesters (two years); or, (2) students who, after their sixth birthday,
have lived in a French-speaking community for a total of more than one year but
fewer than three years. (Three years or more = Division C.)
b.
Students with one French-speaking parent.
c.
Students taking, in addition to their regular French course, one course or more
conducted predominantly in French.
d.
Students who have spent two or more successive summers in a French-speaking
area.
e. Ninth grade students entering the Concours for the first time and who (1) have had one year or more of FLES or any equivalent French program, or who (2) have previously had one semester or more of instruction in French above the sixth-grade level.
3.
Once registered in a division,
the student remains in that division through Level 2.
B.
Division C.
For students whose background
is more extensive than those in levels 01B – 2B and 3A-5A.
A few examples would be:
·
Native French students.
·
Foreign exchange students from schools where French is the principal language
and instruction.
·
Students who, within the last two years, have studied for two years/four
semesters or more at a school where French was the principal language of
instruction
·
Students who, within the last two years, have lived in a French-speaking
community for three or more years.
·
Students who are children of French instructors.
·
Students who regularly use French at home.
Rationale:
The student has completed French 2, but has not had enough experience in French
3 to achieve a good result. Students in Division D must earn a score equal to or
better than students in Division A to earn the same rank.
2.
Division E is
for students who 1) began their study of French at a given level (01-5) at the
beginning of the fall semester but, at Contest time, are not enrolled in French;
or 2) who began their French course only in the second semester of the academic
year. Example: A student is enrolled
in French 2 in September, 2009.
Because the school is on modular scheduling, the course will be completed by
December or January. At Contest
time, the student is not enrolled in any course in French.
This student shall be enrolled
at level 2E.
Rationale:
The student has completed French 2, but at the time of the Concours has not
studied French for 2-3 months.
E.
Students with Learning Disabilities. No later
than two weeks before the registration deadline the student=s
teacher shall submit a document or documents that provide sufficient evidence
for the Contest Administrator to judge the case. Such documents may include an
IEP (“Individualized Education Plan”) or a “504 Plan” or other similar
documents. The Contest Administrator will then determine whether to allow
special accommodations to permit the student to perform equally with other
students in Concours. Such accommodations may include, but are not limited to,
longer test-taking time, brailled or large-print materials, sound scripts and
alternate testing locations.
Grades 7 and 8 at
a Glance
Only those who (1) are
NOT receiving high school level credit or equivalent for their French
course and (2)who have had no more than one year of FLES or any
equivalent French Program
=Level 01A
Only those who (1) are
NOT receiving high school level credit or equivalent for their French
course and (2) who have had more than one year of FLES or any equivalent
French program
=Level 01B
ONLY those who (1) ARE
taking French 1 for high school or equivalent level credit and who (2)
have taken up to one year of FLES or any equivalent French Program
=Level 1A
ONLY those who (1)ARE
taking French 1 for high school or equivalent level credit and who (2)
have had more than one year of FLES or any equivalent French Program
=Level 1B
NOTE: Students
receiving level 1 French credit or the equivalent or
entering French 2 after their present course must enter the
Concours at level 1.
Example 1: in a middle school, where French is offered for the first time and
French 1 is split over 7th and 8th grades.
The 7th graders will take level 01A and the 8th
graders will take level 1A.
These students will enter French 2 in high school and will continue with
the 2A Contest
Example 2: in a private school where French is offered through all grades.
6th grade students will take the FLES Contest, 7th
grade students will take level 1B, and the 8th grade students
level 2B. These students
will enter French 3 in high school and will continue with the 3A
Contest.
There are many other
possible scenarios. Please
contact
George Diller for specific placement guidance to ensure that the
students are placed at the proper levels
02/04/10