| Akron City Schools |
| Bylaws & Policies |
5410 - PROMOTION, PLACEMENT, RETENTION
The Board of Education recognizes that the personal, social, physical, and educational growth of children will vary and they should be placed in the educational setting most appropriate to their needs at the various stages of their growth.
It shall be the policy of the Board that each student be moved forward in a continuous pattern of achievement and growth that is in harmony with his/her own development. Such pattern should coincide with the system of grade levels established by this Board and the instructional objectives established for each.
A student will be promoted to the succeeding grade level when she/he has:
| A. | completed the course requirements at the presently assigned grade; | |
| B. | in the opinion of the professional staff, achieved the academic content standards, benchmarks and grade level indicators set for the present grade; | |
| C. | demonstrated sufficient proficiency to permit him/her to move ahead in the educational program for the next grade; | |
| D. | demonstrated the degree of social, emotional, and physical maturation necessary for a successful learning experience in the next grade; | |
| E. | passing grades ("D," "S" or above on the computerized report card, "N" or above on the developmental report card) throughout the year. |
Documentary and anecdotal evidence should be available to justify retention.
Any student who is truant for more than ten percent (10%) of the required attendance days of the current school year and has failed two (2) or more of the required curriculum subject areas in the current grade shall not be promoted, unless the student's principal and the teachers of the failed subject areas agree that the student is academically prepared to be promoted to the next grade level.
"Academically prepared", as used in the policy, means that the principal, in consultation with the student's teacher(s) has reviewed the student's work and records and has concluded that, in his/her judgement as a professional educator, the student is capable of progressing through and successfully completing work at the next grade level.
State law requires Districts to make a deliberate promotion/retention decision for students who, after multiple administrations, have a score in the "limited" performance range on the 3rd grade reading achievement assessment. The Districts have three (3) options:
| A. | Promote to fourth grade if the principal and reading teacher both agree that other evaluations of the student's work indicate that the student is academically prepared to be promoted to fourth grade; | |
| B. | Promote to the fourth grade with "intensive intervention" services in fourth grade; or | |
| C. | Retain in third grade (3301.0710, 3301.0711 and 3313.608). |
The principal is responsible for administering and coordinating Board policies and administrative procedures relating to promotion and retention. The principal will administer and coordinate this responsibility after personal contact and discussion with affected teachers, counselors, and parents. The principal holds final responsibility for and must be able to justify on a professional basis each promotion, retention, acceleration, placement, and reclassification of each pupil within the school.
R.C. 3313.647, 3313.608, 3313.609
A.C. 3301-35-02 (B) (5)
Revised 1/10/11