505.2 - Student Promotion - Retention – Acceleration

505.2 - Student Promotion - Retention – Acceleration

 

Policy 505.02: Student Promotion - Retention - Acceleration

Status: APPROVED

Original Adopted Date: 10/12/2015 | Last Revised Date: 08/12/2024 | Last Reviewed Date: 08/12/2024

 

 

Students will be promoted to the next grade level at the end of each school year based on the student's achievement, age, maturity, emotional stability, and social adjustment.

The district shall adhere to the following: 

  • Retention/Promotion in kindergarten – eighth grade: The retention of a student will be determined based upon the judgment of the district’s professional staff. When it becomes evident a student in grades kindergarten through eight may be retained in a grade level for an additional year, the parents will be informed prior to making the retention decision.  It is within the sole discretion of the district to retain students in their current grade level and to deny promotion to a student.
     
  • Retention/Promotion in ninth – twelfth grade: Students in grades nine through twelve will be informed of the required coursework necessary to be promoted each year. When it becomes evident a student in these grades will be unable to meet the minimum credit requirements for the year, the student and parents will be informed. It is within the sole discretion of the district to retain students in their current grade level and to deny promotion to a student.
     
  • Acceleration in kindergarten – twelfth grade: Students in grades kindergarten through twelve with exceptional talents may, with the permission of the principal and parents, take classes beyond their current grade level. Enrichment opportunities outside the school district may be allowed when they do not conflict with the school district's graduation requirements.
     
  • Retention or Acceleration in kindergarten – twelfth grade may also occur in additional instances as provided by law. 

For students in grades kindergarten through sixth, if a student is not reading at a proficient level, the district will notify a student’s parent or guardian of the student’s reading level, and the option for parents to request that the student be retained in the student’s current grade level for the subsequent school year.  The district is prohibited from promoting a student to the next grade level if the student is not reading proficiently, and the student’s parent or guardian requests the student be retained at their current grade level for the next year.

Any student or parent who is not satisfied with the decision of the district’s professional staff may seek recourse through policy 502.4 – Student Complaints and Grievances. 
 

NOTE: School districts that use specific steps or processes for determining retention or acceleration should reference the applicable criteria or where to locate the criteria in the bulleted information above. 

 

Legal Reference:

Iowa Code §§ 256.11, .41; 279.8; .68.
281 I.A.C. 12.5(16).

 

 

I.C. Iowa Code

Description

Iowa Code  § 256.11

DE - Educational Standards

Iowa Code  § 256.41

DE - Online Learning Requirements

Iowa Code  § 279.8

Directors - General Rules - Bonds of Employees

Iowa code §279.68

Student Progression-intensive reading instruction-reporting requirements

I.A.C. Iowa Administrative Code

Description

281 I.A.C. 12.5

General Accreditation Standards - Education Program

Cross References

Code

Description

410.02

Summer School Licensed Employees

603.02

Summer School Instruction

dawn@iowaschoo… Wed, 01/22/2020 - 20:01