NORTH SANPETE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Creating Conditions for Learning So All Students Can Succeed
NORTH SANPETE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Creating Conditions for Learning So All Students Can Succeed
VI-16: Acceleration / Retention
North Sanpete School District Policy Number: VI-16
Statement of ............. Effective Date: 10/18/2011
Revised Date: 10/17/2023
Board Policy with Guidelines
Subject: Acceleration / Retention
PHILOSOPHY
The Philosophy of the District is that all students can learn. Effort shall be made to assure that students move through the school system in a continuous manner which is best practice and research based. Students are expected to progress with their age and grade level peers. Suggestions for acceleration or retention of a student, which will place that student in a learning environment other than with own-age peers, can be made by a parent/guardian or educator.
IMPLEMENTATION
A. Decisions will be based upon a careful study of individual student needs. If acceleration or retention is proposed, the decision must be determined through an educational team (IEP team for special education students) convened to discuss the area of development outlined in this policy. The school principal, child’s teacher, school counselor, child’s parent, and a representative from the District Office shall be included on the educational team to make decisions about acceleration or retention of a student.
B. The areas of the student’s growth which must be considered before recommending acceleration or retention are academic progress, social development, emotional development, physical development, attendance, and placements/interventions.
CONSIDERATION FOR RETENTION OR ACCELERATION
A. The educational team will consider the student’s academic progress, including but not limited to:
1. whether a student has mastery of grade level expectations
2. a summary of test score data
3. the teacher’s observation of the child’s classroom performance
4. achievement on daily work in basic skills areas
B. The educational team will consider the student’s social/emotional development, including, but not limited to:
1. the child’s attitude toward school
2. the child’s peer and adult relationships
3. the child’s behavior in a school setting
4. the child’s attention span and task commitment
5. the child’s confidence in school
C. The educational team will consider the student’s physical development, including but not limited to:
1. the child’s gross and fine motor coordination
2. the child’s physical ability to perform expected tasks
3. health factors
4. the student’s age in relationship to other students in the grade level
D. The educational team will consider the student’s attendance, including but not limited to:
1. gaps in learning due to illness/excessive absences
2. whether there was a change of school or other factors that created learning problems
E. The educational team will consider any alternative placements/interventions, including but not limited to:
1. previous alternative grade placement (transition room, developmental kindergarten, or grade level retentions)
2. other interventions that have been attempted (additional instructional time for math or reading, extended year or extended day programs, language instruction, etc.)
EDUCATIONAL PLAN
The educational team shall develop a plan for a child who is accelerated or retained to ensure success for the following school year. The plan should include:
A. Grade level expectations to be addressed both at school and at home.
B. Suggested program placements and instructional procedures, i.e., learning styles, delivery systems, classroom placement.
C. Additional support services to be provided for the student.
APPEAL PROCESS
If the educational team’s recommendation is contrary to what the parent/guardian may desire, the parent/guardian may appeal the decision to the Superintendent, or designee, within two weeks of the team’s recommendation. The Superintendent, or designee, will review the educational team’s decision and determine, based on the information provided to the educational team and any additional information provided by the parent/guardian in the appeal, whether the educational team’s decision should be reversed. The Superintendent’s decision is final.