505.03 - Student Promotion - Retention - Acceleration

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 taking into consideration the student’s proficiency levels and state requirements.  When it becomes evident a student in grades kindergarten through eight may be retained in a grade level for an additional year, the parents/guardians 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 course work 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/guardians will be informed.  It shall be 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 demonstrated accelerated academic talents may, with the permission of the principal and parents/guardians, take classes beyond their current grade level.  This means, if appropriate, students could be advanced grade levels or could have the opportunity to test out of a required grade level or class.  Students at the high school level would still have to fulfill the required number of credits to graduate. 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/guardians 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/guardian who is not satisfied with the decision of the district’s professional staff may seek recourse through policy 502.6 – Student Complaints and Grievances.

 

 

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 256.11, .41, 279.8.
                              281 I.A.C. 12.5(16).

Cross Reference:  501      Student Attendance
                              505      Student Scholastic Achievement
                              603.11  Summer School Instruction

Approved:  11/01/2004

Reviewed:  12/15/2008, 03/17/2014

Revised:  11/16/2015, 11/19/2018, 08/19/2024