345.43
Board
of Education Policy
PROMOTION & RETENTION – FIVE-YEAR-OLD
KINDERGARTEN
Students
being promoted from five-year-old kindergarten to first grade are expected to
demonstrate a proficiency level of basic (the student demonstrates some
academic knowledge, reasoning, skills and understanding in the content area);
proficient (the student demonstrates competency in the academic knowledge,
reasoning, skills and understanding in the content area); or advanced (the student
demonstrates in-depth academic knowledge, reasoning, skills and understanding
in the content areas).
Proficiency
in a content area may be demonstrated through regular daily classroom
performance and assessment in four of the five content areas—reading, written
language, mathematics, science and social studies—for three of the four school
year grading periods.
Any
student may also be promoted from five-year-old kindergarten to first grade on
the recommendation of a team comprised of the parent(s) or guardian, principal,
regular classroom teacher(s), and representatives from special education, pupil
services and/or ESL as deemed appropriate.
Decisions
about grade advancement must be made in the best interests of the student in
recognition of the research about promotion and retention. Decisions will be made after a careful
evaluation of all factors related to learning for the individual student.
A student
with identified special circumstances may use one of the following alternative
options to satisfy the promotion requirements:
·
Students with Disabilities – A
student with a disability may be promoted from five-year-old kindergarten to
first grade on the recommendation of a school team that includes the parent(s)
or guardian, special education staff, regular education teacher(s), principal,
psychologist and/or social worker (as appropriate). This team will evaluate samples of the
student’s work to determine the student’s achievement on his/her IEP academic
goals aligned with district standards and benchmarks, and general academic
readiness for the next grade level using the DPI Alternate Performance
Indicators for Students with Disabilities.
·
Students with English as a
Second Language – A student identified for participation in the District
English as a Second Language program may be promoted from five-year-old
kindergarten to first grade on the recommendation of a school team that
includes the ESL teacher, principal, psychologist and/or social worker as
appropriate. This team will evaluate
samples of the student’s work to determine the student’s knowledge and
understanding of the appropriate district grade level benchmarks, and general
academic readiness for the next grade level using the DPI Alternate Performance
Indicators for Students with English as a Second Language.
·
Students with a Section 504
Plan – A student with a Section 504 Plan may be promoted from five-year-old
kindergarten to first grade on the recommendation of a school team made up of
the parent(s) or guardian, special education staff, regular education
teacher(s), principal, and psychologist and/or social worker (as
appropriate). This recommendation shall
be based on general academic readiness for the next grade level in three of the
four content areas – literacy (reading and language arts), mathematics, science
and social studies using the Minimal, Basic, Proficient and Advanced
proficiency descriptors defined in policy.
The child’s
parent or guardian may request a review of the decision in writing to the Board
of Education. The Board of Education
will make the final determination.
Students who feel they have been discriminated against may file a
complaint in accordance with established district discrimination complaint
procedures.
LEGAL REF.: Sections 118.24(2)(a)
118.33
(6)
Adopted: 10/10/11
Reviewed:
Revised: