Policy 513 - Student Promotion (Acceleration)/Retention Grades K-8
Revised: August 15, 2017
I. PURPOSE - PROCEDURE
It is the policy of Independent School District #477 that students shall generally be promoted with their age groups. Should consideration be given for accelerating a student, the following characteristics shall be studied: level of academic success, achievement testing data, learning potential, age, physical size, self esteem, maturity, emotional stability, attendance, physical health, grade level expectations, teacher recommendations and feedback from the student and parent/guardian.
A. The person requesting acceleration consideration should present their request in the form of a letter to the building principal, who will inform the district gifted and talented program coordinator.
B. The gifted and talented program coordinator will gather information related to the student in regard to the characteristics listed.
1. The gifted and talented program coordinator will analyze the characteristics in relation to:
a. others in current
b. others in the grade level of acceleration request.
C. Decision to accelerate:
1. The Iowa Acceleration Scale (IAS), Third Edition, will be used to Guide the conversation about acceleration. A recommendation to accelerate requires a minimum of forty-six points on the IAS.
2. The grade level acceleration request will be evaluated by a committee comprised of School Administrators, current teacher of the student, teacher at the grade level to which the student may be accelerated, parent(s)/guardian(s) of student, school psychologist, and gifted and talented program coordinator. The committee shall consult with the teachers and parents/guardian. The committee shall be responsible for the final decision and will provide a written explanation to the person that made the request to accelerate the student as to whether the student will be accelerated or remain at the current grade level. The written decision shall become a part of the student’s permanent file.
I. PURPOSE - RETENTION
It is the policy of Independent School District 477 that students shall generally be promoted with their age groups. Should consideration be given for retaining a student in a single grade, the following characteristics shall be studied: level of achievement, learning potential, age, physical size, self esteem, maturity, attendance, physical health, grade level expectations and feedback from the student and parent/guardian. The Superintendent’s decision shall be final.
II. GOALS
A. Maintain academic accountability or achievement.
B. Protect due process rights of students.
C. Establish an early identification and treatment plan for poorly achieving students.
D. Provide a student support system which will include the principal, all Appropriate staff members, counselor and parents/guardians.
E. Provide program adjustment plans to help poorly achieving students gain Needed skills without retention.
F. Provide a monitoring system to follow students who progress with an intervention plan and/or who have been retained.
G. Inform parents of the intervention.
H. Describe procedures for initiation of this policy in the school handbook.
Adopted: February 21, 2017
Revised: August 15, 2017
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