Student Promotion - Kindergarten Through Eighth Grade- 2421P

Student Identification and Interventions

A. Early Identification

It is the responsibility of school staff to identify individual student needs at the earliest possible opportunity. In order to determine student academic needs, instructional assessments in the areas of reading, writing, and math shall be given in the fall at each grade levels K-8th. Based on the results of these and other assessments, students not at standard shall be identified and have a plan developed to assist the student as soon as possible. Interventions, both in and outside of the school day, will be communicated to the parents/guardians. Students who transfer into grades 5th through 10th during the school year shall be assessed at the earliest possible opportunity and, if indicated, have a Student Learning Plan (SLP) developed no later than four weeks after transfer.

B. Regularly Scheduled Monitoring of Student Progress

Students who are not at standard will be a high priority. The teacher will assess student’s progress or lack thereof at least four times a year.

A suggested schedule is as follows:

• September/October
• January
• March
• May/June

In conjunction with assessments, the teacher, working collaboratively with parents/guardians and the student, will review interventions and support. Parents/guardians will be notified in writing if their child is identified for non-promotion prior to the end of the school year. Final decisions of promotion or retention will be made at the school site (except for students entering 6th and 9th grades). Decisions made for these grade levels are final and there are no appeals.

C. Interventions

Students in all grades are expected to meet the standards set forth in district and state assessments and report cards, and classroom demonstrations (Chart 1). For students not meeting grade level expectations in reading and math after second grade, promotion supports and interventions will be considered. Program options and interventions will be determined prior to the student entering the third grade and the start of each grade level thereafter. Mandatory summer school will be required for those students facing non-promotion at the end of fifth and eighth grade.

Promotion Requirements for Students Entering Grade 6

Promotion decisions for entering grade 6 will be based on:

• Scoring 388 or above on 4th or 5th reading and math sections on the WASL; or 70% on district course assessment (DCA), and 80% on computation.

Promotion Requirements for Students Entering Grades 7 and 8

Final promotion decisions for students entering grades 7 and 8 will be made by the school-based team prior to the fall. The school-based team will be comprised of no less than the principal, classroom teacher, intervention teacher and counselor.

The team’s promotion decisions will take into consideration the analysis of the district and state assessments, reading and math grades on the report card, minimum middle school demonstrations for promotion in reading and math, and student portfolio with evidence of approaching standard.

Promotion Requirements for Students Entering Grade 9

Promotion decisions for entering grade 9 will be based on:

• Scoring 388 or above on the reading and math sections of the 7th or 8th grade WASL; or
• Scoring 70% on math, 80% on computation, and 70% reading, on the 8th grade reading and math district course assessment given in May (parents may request to have the district course assessments administered to their child at any time during the school year); or
• Scoring any combination of WASL and District Course Assessments

Retention letters will be sent to parents at each grading period if the student is at risk of being retained. Mandatory summer school is required for all students who do not meet these promotion criteria. This will be a student’s final opportunity to reach minimum standards identified.

Appeal Process to 6th Grade

If parents or principals feel “exceptional circumstances” exist that should allow a student to go to grade 6, they may appeal to the District’s Review Team.

Appeals may be made by parents or principals and must be made in writing prior to the start of the school year and shall document the rationale for promotion/retention and take into consideration a student’s portfolio (file of evidence which shall contain at a minimum verification of accomplishment of the reading and math items listed on Chart 1) and other circumstances that may exist for the team to consider. Decisions by the District Review Team are final.

Appeal Process to 9th Grade

If parents or principals feel “exceptional circumstances” exist that should allow a student to go to grade 9, they may appeal to the District’s Review Team.

Appeals may be made by parents or principals and must be made in writing prior to the start of the school year and shall document the rationale for promotion/retention and take into consideration a student’s verification of accomplishment of the reading and math items listed on Chart 2 and other circumstances that may exist for the team to consider. Decisions by the District Review Team are final.

EXEMPTIONS FROM PROMOTION POLICY

A. Students Who Qualify for Special Education

Promotion decisions shall be based on each student’s progress toward attainment of measurable annual goals and objectives as specified in his or her Individual Education Plan (IEP). Goals and objectives must be based on evaluation data, annual review, re-evaluation (three-year) data, and current levels of performance. The goals and objectives must be developed in accordance with the academic standards established by the district. Unless specified in the I.E.P., special education students enrolled in regular education classes are expected to meet the promotion standards applicable to their non-handicapped peers.

Students with Section 504 Plans

Given that accommodations have been provided as prescribed in the student's 504 plan, retention may be considered an appropriate intervention as prescribed by Board Policy.

B. Students with Active Limited English Proficiency Status

Active ELL students are required to meet the Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAOS) or have a Student Learning Plan (SLP) in place at grade 5 and above and will be expected to make adequate yearly progress. Final promotion decisions will be determined by a school team consisting of the ELL teacher, principal, counselor and intervention specialist no later than the last day of school.

Chart 1 - Minimum Standards for Promotion - 12K PDF

Chart 2 - Minimum Standards for Middle School Promotion 12K PDF

Form 1 - Parent/Student Appeal of Promotion Decision - 8th Grade Only 26K PDF

Form 2 - Student Promotion/Retention Review - Middle School 10K PDF

Form 3 - Middle School Promotion - 21K PDF

Date: 10/23/07