IKE
PROMOTION  AND  RETENTION
OF  STUDENTS

(Promotion or Retention of Elementary Students;
High School Course Pass or Fail)

Regular  Education

The District's promotion policy is based on the premise that students should possess minimal competencies at each instructional level in order to be promoted.  It is generally held that to be successful in school a student must be minimally competent in the basic skills of reading, language, and math.  Therefore, the District places emphasis on the basic skills competencies, especially in the primary grades.

In making promotion/retention decisions, consideration should also be given to developmental factors affecting learning and classroom success.  Nonpromotion (retention) should not be the first recourse for a student having difficulty meeting the criteria for promotion.

Criteria have been developed to provide each student with a maximum opportunity to succeed in school.  Promotion is based on students achieving competency in skills necessary for success at each succeeding level.  The District may conduct a ceremony to honor students who have been promoted from the eighth (8th) grade.

Beginning in school year 2013-2014, the promotion of a student from grade three (3) shall be conditioned on the satisfaction of the applicable competency requirements prescribed by A.R.S. 15-701 and depicted in Administrative Regulation lKE-RE.

For a variety of reasons, some students may require more than the allotted time to develop their educational potential.  Alternative instructional methods and materials may be required.  For one who may be retained, an individual success plan will be developed to focus on the areas of deficiencies while maintaining other skill competencies.  At such time as deficient competencies have been mastered, the student's grade-level placement may be reconsidered.  Retention should not be a repetition of a grade without modifications in the instructional program.  If retention is to occur, it should occur in the earliest possible years and generally no more than once during the elementary school experience.  A student who has been retained once and continues to have difficulty meeting standards should be considered for evaluation and remediation.

Parents, students, and school personnel shall be made fully aware of the promotion standards.  Arizona Revised Statute 15-521 states that every teacher shall make the decision for promotion or retention of students.  A parent or legal guardian who opposes the decision of the teacher(s) may appeal through the prescribed appeal process.

Special  Education

Promotion/retention decisions, when applied to students enrolled in special education, shall be on a case-by-case basis, consistent with the individualized education program and in accordance with A.A.C. R7-2-301 and R7-2-401.

Students who do not meet regular promotion requirements must meet the course of study and promotion requirements for special education under the guidance of A.A.C. R7-2-401.  The programs for such students may need adaptations.

Any student unable to meet regular academic requirements for promotion must meet the requirements of an alternative curriculum derived from the regular curriculum, which will be developed by a multidisciplinary team on an individual basis.  Students placed in special education will complete the course of study as prescribed in their individual education programs.  Course work will be presented at a level commensurate with the student's ability.  The student's permanent file shall identify the courses completed through special education; however, the student will receive the standard certificate of promotion.

Adopted:  November 18, 2014

LEGAL REF.: 
A.R.S. 
15-203
15-341
15-342
15-521
15-701
15-701.01
15-715
15-802
A.A.C.
R7-2-301
R7-2-309
R7-2-401
A.G.O.
I84 - 016

CROSS REF.:
IHA - Basic Instructional Program
IKEB - Acceleration
IKF - Graduation Requirements