Grant County School
Bylaws & Policies
 

5410 - PROMOTION AND RETENTION

The Grant County Board of Education believes a countywide promotion and retention policy is necessary to provide for the smooth, continuous and natural progress of the students through the school program. For retention to be most effective it must be student focused, non-punitive, and should take place at the earliest possible time in the student's educational program.

Decisions regarding retention must be made in the best interest of the child. The educational program of each student should be determined individually because of the numerous factors that need to be considered. It is the purpose of this policy to foster student responsibility with retention being a natural consequence of failure to achieve passing grades in core subjects. Academic achievement is the basis for promotion.

Children should not spend more than nine (9) years in Grades K-6. No child should spend more than two (2) years in any one (1) grade.

After spending two (2) years in one (1) grade without successfully attaining the required standard of achievement for that grade level, a student's record should indicate that the student has been moved (not promoted) to the next grade level.

A major component of the Grant County promotion and retention policy will be the use of Light's Retention Scale.

Procedures for Student Promotion and Retention Criteria for Promotion:
 A.Kindergarten – Grade 2
  Students will have attained mastery of grade level reading and math skills (content standards). Failure to make adequate progress toward mastery could result in retention as determined by the classroom teacher and the retention team.

B. Grades 3 – 6

Students will earn a passing grade in reading, math, and one (1) other core subject (English, Social Studies, Science, Spelling).

C. Grades 7 – 8

Students will earn a passing grade in at least four (4) of the seven (7) subjects. If two (2) "F's" are earned in the core subjects of Reading, English, Math, Science, Social Studies, the student will be retained. Students who fail three (3) of the seven (7) subjects will be retained. These subjects are Reading, English, Math, Science, Social Studies, Related Arts, and Physical Education/Health.

Students who completed the second year in the same grade with acceptable attendance, earned failing grades in different subject areas than the previous year, and had WESTEST scores at the mastery or higher level would be under retention review.

Students who earned only two (2) "F's" with one (1) or both in Physical Education or Related Arts would be under retention review.

D. Grades 9 – 12

Beginning with the ninth grade all required subjects must be repeated if failed. A student must have earned six (6) credits to be considered a sophomore, twelve (12) credits to be considered a junior, and eighteen (18) credits to be considered a senior. Twenty-five (25) credits shall be required to graduate, and eighteen (18) of the credits must be earned during the sophomore, junior, and senior year.

Exceptional Students

State regulations have determined that the IEP (Individual Educational Program) shall be considered the central educational document for all exceptional students. Since an IEP is developed for each exceptional student, decisions regarding the promotion and retention of exceptional students should be based on the completion of goals and objectives stated in the IEP. When an exceptional student is to be considered for retention the IEP Committee and principal or designee will meet to review available information and make any necessary decision regarding promotion and retention.

Reporting to Parents:

It is the responsibility of the school to see that students and parents receive frequent, accurate reports as to the student's status regarding retention.

Retention Reporting Procedure for Elementary:

The following shall serve as a guide for schools in working with students considered for retention:

 A.Prior to January 30th: Teachers shall meet with the building principal and submit the names of students to be considered for retention, and the reasons for suggesting retention. A SAT (School Assistance Team) meeting will be held to develop an assistance plan for each student being considered for retention. The SAT may identify instructional program modifications; develop a plan to improve student performance and/or request initiation of multi-disciplinary assessment.
 B.February 16th – 28th: Parents are notified by letter of the possibility of retention. Parents shall be requested to attend a conference. This conference shall be between the parents, principal, and student's teacher(s). The purpose of the meeting is to consider the student's current academic standing, to discuss the effects of retention, to provide suggestions for improvement, to consider program modifications and to generate a list of requirements that must be met to prevent retention.
 C.April 1st – 15th: Parents will be notified by certified letter to attend a conference to discuss student's progress and their current status with regard to the need for retention. At this meeting the Light's Retention Scale will be implemented. Teacher(s) may present any other relevant data regarding the student.
 D.May 1st – 15th: Final notification of the student's retention or non-retention will be sent to parents.

Retention Reporting Procedure for Grades 7 – 8:

At the end of the first interim grade period (block schedule = five (5) weeks), students that have failing grades in two (2) or more subject areas will be identified. It is strongly recommended that a SAT (School Assistance Team) meeting be convened to identify instructional program modifications; develop a plan to improve student performance and/or request initiation of a multi-disciplinary assessment. A letter will be sent home at the end of the first semester (block schedule = nine (9) weeks) for any student having earned two (2) D's (65% - 74%) or lower grades. A special parent-teacher conference will be requested at this time. The final notification to parents will be mailed certified at the end of the third grading period (block schedule = fourteen (14) weeks).

Retention Reporting Procedure for Secondary:

Students enrolled in secondary courses (as identified in Policy 2510) shall pass or fail in each subject rather than on a grade level basis. Secondary school students in courses of two (2) semesters duration shall pass or fail for the year rather than by the semester. Final grades for any course shall be consistent with the grades the student has received on his/her report card during the year and shall be in accordance with applicable Board and WV Board of Education Policy.

Parents shall receive notification of possible failure for each class in which the student is enrolled. The regular report card and interim report may be used for this notification. Parents of students who may fail a class will be requested, in writing, to attend Parent/Teacher Conference. At this conference the student's academic performance will be reviewed and suggestions for student improvement will be made.

It is strongly recommended that a SAT (School Assistance Team) meeting be held to develop an assistance plan for students who are failing. The SAT may identify instructional program modifications; develop a plan to improve student performance and/or request initiation of a multi-disciplinary assessment.

Middle School/Repeat High School Credit:

According to WV State Board Policy 2510, students in 7th and 8th grades who take a

high school level course (such as Algebra I or Foreign Language) will receive high school credit. As a result, the grade the student receives in this course is transferred and counted in the high school grade average (GPA) and will be shown on all official transcripts.

West Virginia Board of Education Policy 2510