Rule 5410 - Promotion, Retention and Acceleration
For students in kindergarten through second grade, failure to make adequate progress towards grade level standards may result in a recommendation for retention.
For students in grades 3 through 8, the following procedures address their promotion:
1. To be advanced to the next grade, a student must meet the criteria stated below:
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Achievement – The student must earn a passing score for the year in Reading and/or Language Arts and two other core academic subjects (math, social studies, and science).
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Wisconsin Forward Exam – The student must score basic or above in all content areas tested at that grade level.
2. If a student does not meet the achievement and Wisconsin Forward Exam criteria or is excused or excluded from taking the Wisconsin Forward Exam, the school (principal, teacher, and other relevant staff) will review other criteria as evidence of academic growth including but not limited to the following:
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Standardized testing
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District assessments
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Classroom assessments
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Portfolio assessments
3. If a student does not meet the academic criteria, the school will convene a meeting not later than the second scheduled parent/teacher conference, which may include principal, parents, teacher, and other relevant staff, who will collect and review evidence of academic growth over time and other relevant data. Criteria may include prior retention, intellectual ability, social-emotional readiness, participation in summer school and other intervention programs, and any health-related issues.
Students identified under IDEA, Section 504, or Limited English Speaking (LES) may be exempted from certain portions of the Wisconsin Forward Exam as defined in their IEP, IAP, or determined by LES criteria. The school will then use the alternate assessments identified in their IEP, IAP, or the state's alternative assessments for LES students to determine whether or not the individual student has shown proficiency in meeting the state standards.
If a student who is enrolled in a Special Education program does not meet the promotion criteria, an IEP Team recommendation shall prevail in promoting the student to the next grade level. The IEP Team shall at a minimum, consist of the student's parent, the student's regular education teacher, the student's special education teacher, and an administrative representative.
Pursuant to Wisconsin statute, parents shall have the right to withhold the student from taking the Wisconsin Forward Exam for purposes of determining grade advancement. This option shall pertain even if the student has already taken the test and performed poorly. Students not taking the Wisconsin Forward Exam will need to pass the established district assessments in order to qualify for grade-level advancement.
The administrative team shall develop and provide intervention and remedial programming during the school year and possibly during the summer or via other extended opportunities to assist students in meeting the criteria for advancement. Successful completion of summer remedial programs may be a contingency for grade advancement.
A child may be retained only one time for failure to meet the criteria for advancement on the Wisconsin Forward Exam.
Parental Appeal Process:
- An appeal may be made to the Board who will verify that the procedures/processes outlined in this policy were followed.
The District Administrator shall be responsible for the general supervision and management of the advancement of students under this policy. The District Administrator, designee, or the building principal shall determine whether a student has satisfied the criteria in this policy. If a student has satisfied the criteria in this policy and the requirements of any other district policy applicable to the advancement of students, the student may be promoted to the next grade.
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