Definitions

Promotion is the single grade step most students take from year to year.  Promotion practices at the school district shall have as their objective the placing of the student in an environment where his/her maximum development will take place.

Acceleration is the advancement of a student by a singular course or grade beyond the current grade level.

Retention allows a student to repeat all or part of a grade in order to fully prepare for the work of the next grade.

Implementation

Classroom educators are responsible for assessing student progress and recommending the promotion or retention of students each year.  Educators will assess academic readiness using a thorough evaluation process that may include but is not limited to; district-based testing, portfolios, and teacher observation.   The evaluation will also take into account social, emotional, physical and mental growth, past academic performance and behavior, motivation, attendance, and other pertinent circumstances.

Acceleration Procedures

The principal will develop rules to implement this policy that will specify a process for the consideration of acceleration that will include the following characteristics:

1. Will seek the involvement of parents/guardians in a highly collaborative working relationship.
2. Will seek the input from peer teachers at the same academic level to review and give recommendation based upon the student documentation.
3. Will seek input from teachers at the grade that the student will be accelerated to review and give recommendation based upon the student documentation.
4. Acceleration should be considered in rare cases after all enrichment opportunities have been thoroughly explored and exhausted.
5. Students will be accelerated if it is expected that the action will be beneficial to the student socially, emotionally, academically and when there are no other means which meets the student’s needs.   Before considering acceleration, actions such as inclusion in a talented enrichment program, enrichment in the classroom, or other advanced courses through correspondence, or distance learning should be examined.
6. Will outline steps and time frames that provide for a great deal of interaction with parents/guardians.
7. The final decision will be made by the principal after consultation with parents/guardians, classroom teachers, committee of peer teachers, committee of receiving staff, and other professional staff.
8. Parents may appeal a decision of the principal to the superintendent.

Retention Procedures

The principal will develop rules to implement this policy that will specify a process for the consideration of retention that will include the following characteristics:

1. Will seek the involvement of parents/guardians in a highly collaborative working relationship.
2. Will seek input from curriculum specialists, classroom teachers, and counselors to review and give a recommendation based upon the student documentation.
3. Retention should be considered in rare cases after all remediation opportunities have been thoroughly explored and exhausted.
4. Students will be retained if it is expected that the action will be beneficial to the student socially, emotionally, academically and when there are no other means which meets the student’s needs. Before considering retention, such actions as remediation in class or out, tutoring in class or after school, mentoring, credit-recovery opportunities, cooperative efforts with families, or summer school should be evaluated.
5. Will outline steps and time frames that provide for a great deal of interaction with parents/guardians.
6. The final decision will be made by the principal after consultation with parents/guardians, classroom teachers, committee of receiving staff, and other professional staff.
7. Parents/guardians may appeal a decision of the principal to the superintendent.