4750R

PROMOTION AND RETENTION OF STUDENTS REGULATION

Elementary Schools

Students must be placed in the best possible learning levels for successful educational experiences. Retention shall be limited to those situations where in the best interests of the child a successful learning experience is reasonably assured. Diligent effort shall be made to utilize all available resources to determine the child's appropriate placement.

The following is the procedure that is recommended in grades K-8 in order to determine if students should be retained:

        1.     By February 1 of each year, the teacher should forward to the Principal a list of students that have scored in the
                bottom three stanines in the most recent achievement examinations in reading and mathematics.* (In some
                instances, the most recent examination would be the achievement test from the prior year and, in other
                instances, the most recent examination would be the achievement test given in the beginning of the year for
                students in certain compensatory programs.) In addition to the stanine information being forwarded, it is
                recommended that information relating to the student's reading and mathematics level also be forwarded
                (see exhibit). If the teacher believes that a student should be considered for retention, but has not scored in
                the bottom three stanines, that students name should be included on the list together with the pertinent
                information.

                *As achievement tests are not given at the kindergarten level, information obtained from the mastery checklist
                 should be utilized in determining if a student should possibly be retained.

        2.     By June 1 of the school year, the teacher should conference with the Principal concerning the retention or
                advancement of each student. Present at the meeting should be all support personnel deemed necessary by
                the Building Principal. Following the meeting:

                        a.     the Principal will, based on the information provided, decide whether a student will or will not be
                                promoted. The Principal's decision will be recorded on the "Possible Retention Form";

                        b.     the Principal will initiate the filling out of the Retention Insert Form. This form will then be included in
                                the cumulative records; (See exhibit) and

                        c.     the teacher will, soon after, contact the parents in regard to this decision (see #5 below).

        3.     Another guideline that should be incorporated into the retention policy is that a student will not be retained for
                more than two years.

        4.     Every attempt should be made to retain youngsters in their earlier years, rather than in their later years.

        5.     Parents will be intimately involved in the decision regarding their child's schooling. Parents will be included.
                Specifically, a student will not be retained without allowing for parental input. In those instances when the
                school district and the parent disagree regarding the possible retention of their youngsters, the opinion of the
                parents shall prevail. In such instances a letter objectively reviewing the two positions should be sent to the
                parents with a copy included in the student's folder.

Middle Schools

        1.     Students who pass all subjects will be promoted automatically.

        2.     Students who fail one subject will have the failure evaluated and a determination made as to the reason for
                the failure. The student may be required to repeat the subject, but in typical cases shall be promoted with
                recommendation for either summer school or assignment to a lower academic ability group. The decision
                shall be arrived at by consensus from a case conference approach involving teacher, Principal, and guidance
                counselor.

        3.     Students who fail two subjects shall have their cases considered on an individual basis through a case
                conference approach as in 2 above.

        4.     Students who fail more than two subjects shall fail for the year as well as the semester.

Senior High School

In general, promotion from one class to the next shall be contingent upon the passing of all required subjects and the accumulation of four units of credit at each year level with the total accumulation.

Children Who Fail or Underachieve

Pursuant to Part 203 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, students who have "failed continuously" or are underachievers must undergo suitable examinations to ascertain the physical, mental and social causes of such failure or underachievement.

The physical examination shall be made by a licensed physician and shall precede any other necessary examinations. Any needed psychological exam shall be made by an approved psychologist.

The result of the exam shall be reviewed by the appropriate school authorities in order to determine the best procedures to alleviate or remove, insofar as possible, the causes of failure or underachievement for the child.

Adoption date: January 1, 1993