5410 - PROMOTION, PLACEMENT, AND RETENTION

Beecher Community Schools

Bylaws & Policies

5410 - PROMOTION, PLACEMENT, AND RETENTION

The Board of Education recognizes that the personal, social, physical, and educational growth of children will vary and that 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 s/he has:

	A.	completed the course requirements at the presently assigned grade;
	B.	in the opinion of the professional staff, achieved the instructional objectives set for the present grade;
	C.	demonstrated sufficient proficiency to permit him/her to move ahead in the educational program of the next grade;
	D.	demonstrated the degree of social, emotional, and physical maturation necessary for a successful learning experience in the next grade.

Following sound principles of child guidance, the Board discourages the skipping of grades.

The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines for promotion, placement, and retention of students which:

	A.	ensure students who are falling seriously behind their peers or who may not be promoted receive the special assistance they may need to achieve the academic outcomes of the District's core curriculum;
	B.	require the recommendation of the relevant staff members for promotion, placement, or retention;
	C.	require that parents are informed in advance of the possibility of retention of a student at a grade level;
	D.	assure that efforts are made to remediate the student's difficulties before s/he is retained;
	E.	assign to the principal the final responsibility for determining the promotion, placement, or retention of each student.
	F.	Time Line for Elementary Grade Placement Changes

		1.	Before Parent/Teacher Conference: Principal will review grade placement procedures with teachers.
		2.	October-January: Teacher should inform parents of student progress.
		3.	Early March: Teacher will notify principal, if an alternative grade placement or retention is being considered. The Student Intervention Team will be convened by the principal.
		4.	Early April: If placement or retention is still being considered, parents should be notified by this time and commitment to the decision secured.
		5.	May-June: Decision on placement or retention is made and student Grade Placement Recommendation is completed.

Middle School Level

Criteria

		1.	To be promoted the student must successfully complete a majority of the required academic subjects.
		2.	Failure to complete the requirements for English, Mathematics, or Science at grade eight will result in automatic placement at the high school in both regular and remedial English, Mathematics, or Science respectively.

Time Line for Middle School Grade Placement

		1.	Before Parent/Teacher Conferences: Principal will review, with teachers, grade placement procedure.
		2.	October-January: Teacher should indicate concern to parents and should initiate documentation. Any concerns should be reflected on report cards.
		3.	Early March: Teacher will notify principal, if an alternative grade placement or retention is being considered. The Student Intervention Team will be convened by the principal.
		4.	Early April: If placement or retention is still being considered, parents should be notified by this time and commitment to the decision secured.
		5.	May-June: Decision on placement is made and student Grade Placement Recommendation is completed.

High School Level

	A.	Criteria
		For the official records, student class placement will be determined in the following manner:

	Less than 7 credits = Freshman

	8 credits to less than 18 credits = Sophomore

	19 credits to less than 29 credits = Junior

	30 credits to and above = Senior

	42 credits are required to graduate

	B.	Students enrolling from schools having different graduation requirements will have their credits pro-rated for class placement.
	C.	All incoming students will be informed of these requirements at the time of admission.