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Policies and Procedures Handbook |
Last Updated: 8/10/98
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Garrett County Public Schools
40 South Second Street
Oakland, MD 21550
(301)334-8900 |
Promotion / Retention
Administrative Procedure
I. Elementary Level
A.
By mid-year or as soon as. possible thereafter, the school will notify the parents of any student who will be
considered for retention.
B.
A conference involving the parents and school personnel must be scheduled as soon as possible after the parent
notification prescribed in I.A. above.
C.
A Retention Management Plan Form, including strategies to remediate deficiency, must be prepared for this
conference and retained in the student's file.
D.
An end-of-the-year conference involving the parents and school personnel, must be scheduled at least three weeks
prior to the close of school.
E.
The parents, teacher(s), and principal must work together to make the best possible decision concerning the
promotion/ retention of the student. The authority to make the final decision, rests with the principal. This
decision can be challenged through the Student Due Process Procedures only for deviation from procedures
and/or policy.
II. Middle School / High School Levels
The decision to promote/retain a student at these levels is based on much more objective criteria -- grades, Carnegie
Units (credits) and/or attendance and is, therefore, more easily made and understood.
A. Middle School
1. Basis for Promotion / Retention
a.
A student should strive for passing grades in every subject. However, should a student not achieve
passing grades according to the Garrett County grading policy, retention in the same grade will occur
when the student:
(1)
Fails two (2) or more full year classes in any given year.
(2)
Fails the same subject two years in the areas of reading, language arts, science, math, or social
studies.
(3)
Fails to meet the conditions of the Garrett county attendance policy.
b.
Students who fail three (3), or more full year classes in a given year or fail to meet the requirements of
the attendance policy are encouraged to attend summer' school classes, when available, for
remediation, but will not be eligible for promotion as a result of satisfactory summer school
performance.
2. Process
a.
By mid-year, or as soon as possible thereafter, the school (via the report card, a phone call, or a letter)
will notify parents of any student whose performance falls below the standards set in II. A. above.
b.
At the end of each subsequent grading period a similar notification must be issued to the parents.
c.
Since report card dates are advertised and report cards are the traditional method of informing parents
of their student's progress, an omission on the part of the school in regards to the notification stated in
parts "a" and "b" above will not preclude a student's retention.
b.
It must be noted that it would be possible for a student whose parents were not notified to be retained.
An example: A student who received grades of 65% during each of the first five grading periods and
then earned less than 35% during the final grading period.
B. High School
1.
Basis of Promotion / Retention for students entering grade 9 for the first time prior to the fall of 1993.
- In order for a student to be considered in twelfth grade, he/she must
have accumulated at least thirteen credits, have been previously enrolled in high school at least three
years and be able to complete all courses required for graduation.
- In order for a student to be considered in eleventh grade, he/she must
have been previously enrolled in high school at least two years, have attained at least six credits and
able to fit in over the two remaining years all courses required for graduation.
- In order for a student to be considered in tenth grade, he/she must
have been previously enrolled in high school at least one year, be able to fit in over the remaining
three years all courses required for graduation and have earned a minimum of two (2) credits.
- In order for a student to be considered in the ninth grade, he/she
must have successfully completed eighth grade and be enrolled in a program leading toward high
school completion.
- A student's attendance record must meet the criteria established in
the Garrett County attendance policy.
Process
- The graduation requirements are publicized to each student and
parents through the local school handbook given to ninth grade students. These requirements are
reviewed periodically with the student.
- At the completion of ninth and tenth grades, the counselor will
attempt to reschedule required courses for those students who did not earn "Carnegie Units"
(credits) in those courses.
- In addition, at the completion of eleventh grade, the school will
review the credit status of each student and attempt to schedule the necessary courses which are
needed for graduation.
- A report is given to each student who is failing a course at the
midpoint of the grading period.
- At the end of the first semester for twelve grade students, students
and parents will be informed of failing performance when it appears that it will affect the students
opportunity to graduate.
- It must be noted that it would be possible for a student whose parents
were not notified to fail and/or not receive a "Carnegie Unit" (credit).
- It must be noted that it is the responsibility of each twelve grade
student to ensure that he/she includes and successfully completes all remaining requirements for
graduation.
2.
Basis of Promotion / Retention for students entering Grade 9 for the first time in the fall of 1993 and
thereafter.
- In order for a student to be considered in twelve grade, he/she
must have accumulated at least fourteen (14) credits, have been previously enrolled in high
school at least three years, be able to satisfy all program completion requirements, and shall have
met all competency and service learning requirements.
- In order for a student to be considered in eleventh grade, he/she
must have been previously enrolled in high school at least two years, have earned at least seven (7)
credits, and be enrolled in an approved program of studies.
- In order for a student to be considered in tenth grade, he/she
must have been previously enrolled in high school at least one year, be enrolled in an approved
program of studies and have earned a minimum of three (3) credits.
- In order for a student to be considered in the ninth grade, he/she
must have successfully completed eighth grade and be enrolled in an approved program of studies
leading toward high school completion.
- A student's attendance record must meet the criteria established in
the Garrett County attendance policy.
Process
- The graduation/completion requirements are publicized to each student
and parents through the local school handbook given to ninth grade students. Those requirements are
reviewed periodically with the student.
- It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that he/she identifies
and successfully completes all the requirements for graduation/completion.
- At the mid-point of each grading period, teachers will issue a progress
report for each student who is failing a course. The Programs Report must be returned to the teacher
with parent/guardian signature within 5 school days. In the event a signed progress report is not returned
or parent signature is questionable, the teacher will call or otherwise contact the parent/guardian. It is
possible for a student whose parents/guardians were not notified to fail to achieve satisfactory performance
in program completion, competency assessment, service learning, or final grades.
- At the completion of the ninth and tenth grades, the counselor will attempt
to reschedule required courses for those students who did not earn "Carnegie Units" (credits) in required
courses, and also notify parents/guardians of students who have not satisfied competency and/or service
learning requirements.
- At the completion of eleventh grade, the school will review the credit
status of each student and attempt to schedule the necessary courses which are needed for program
completion. Parents/guardians of students not achieving twelfth grade status will be notified and the
reasons given.
- At the end of first semester for twelfth grade, students and parents /
guardians will be informed of failing performance when it appears that it will affect the student's
opportunity to graduate. This will include grade requirements, program completion, competency
standards and service learning requirements.
III. Special Education
Special Education students who are in non-graded
or non-credit programs will be advanced as follows:
A.
If the school places non-graded or non-credit special education students at a certain grade level for attendance,
extra-curricular activities, and other social purposes, the decision as to appropriate grade placement will be
made by the ARD Team in consultation with the principal and special education teacher. (The I.E.P. must have
a statement which will indicate why the special education student has been placed at a certain grade level.)
B.
The decision wether to advance a non-graded special-education student from one school level to another (i.e.,
elementary to middle; middle to high school) must be made on the basis of appropriate criteria such as age,
social development, maturity, appropriateness of curriculum, and progress toward achievement of I.E.P. goals
and objectives. This decision will be made by the ARD Team in consultation with the principal(s) and the
special education teacher(s) involved. (There should be a statement on the I.E.P. which will indicate basis for
advancement from one school level to another, i.e, elementary to middle; middle to high school.)
