Promotion and Retention

The Board recognizes that personal, social, physical and educational growth of children will vary and that they should be placed in the educational setting most appropriate to their needs at various stages of their growth.

The Superintendent shall direct development of and the Board shall adopt detailed regulations to govern progress of pupils through levels Kindergarten through twelve.  The regulations shall include:

1. Standards of proficiency related to district goals and objectives.

2. Standards of attendance and provision for review of mastery;

3. Timely efforts to help pupils achieve acceptable levels of proficiency;

4.  Procedures for involving parent(s) or legal guardian(s) in the design of the remedial program; and

5.  Timely notification of parent(s) or legal guardian(s) when there is a possibility of failure.

Parent(s) or legal guardian(s) will be notified whenever exceptions are contemplated in a pupil's normal progression from level to level.  The final decision in all cases will rest with the school authorities.

Promotion Guidelines

A.  Kindergarten

Retention in Kindergarten is a very serious decision.  No single criterion should serve as a catalyst for retention.  Every child's overall development should be reviewed in a holistic evaluation.  Parental consent in retaining a Kindergarten pupil must be obtained.

B.  Grades One - Four

1.  A pupil should be considered for retention if he/she gets an “F” in Communications or Mathematics.  A grade of “F” will be assigned to a pupil in any subject area when he/she has failed to meet sixty-five of the proficiencies as stated in the corresponding curriculum.

2.  In addition, a pupil who receives a grade of “D” in Communications or Mathematics and scores poorly on the district’s/State’s standardized assessment should be reviewed for possible retention.

3.  Excessive absenteeism will only be a factor when one of the above two conditions exists.

C.  Grades Five - Six

1. A pupil may be considered for retention if he receives an "F" Communications and/or Mathematics and one other major content area subject.  The other content area subjects are Health/Science and Social Studies.
2. In addition, a pupil who receives a grade of “D” in Communications or Mathematics and scores poorly on the district’s/State’s standardized assessment should be reviewed for possible retention.
3. Excessive absenteeism should be considered a factor even when a pupil does not meet the above criteria.  When he/she has demonstrated consistent low performance "D" in the major subject areas and scores poorly in the district's standardized assessment instrument.  The pupil should be considered for retention on the basis that he/she does not have the anticipated ability to perform the work of the next grade level.
4. When section C-3 is the basis of retention, parental consent must be obtained.

D.  Grades Seven - Eight

1.  A pupil may be considered for retention if he receives an "F" Communications and/or Mathematics and one other major content area subject.  The other content area subjects are Health/Science and Social Studies.

2.  In addition, a pupil who receives a grade of “D” in Communications or Mathematics and scores poorly on the district’s/State’s standardized assessment should be reviewed for possible retention. 

3.   A student in grades seven (7) through eight (8) may be dropped from a course or denied course/class credit when he/she has been absent for eighteen (18) days or more of the course/class sessions for the school year, whatever the reason, except for excused absences.  Exceptions to this rule may be made for students who have demonstrated to the teacher that through completion of make-up assignments that they have mastered the proficiency established for the course of study or at the discretion of the principal.

E.  Grades Nine – Twelve

1. To be promoted to Grade 9, a student must possess an eighth grade diploma.

To be promoted to Grade 12, a student must have earned a minimum of 90 credits and met the criteria for grade level placement.

2. To meet high school graduation requirements a student must have earned a minimum of 120 credits and fulfilled all other graduation requirements.

(Graduation requirements may be earned in high school courses taken at approved summer schools, if approval is given first by the high school administration.)

3. A student in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) may be dropped from a course or denied course/class credit when he/she has been absent for eighteen (18) days or more of the course/class sessions for the school year, whatever the reason, except for excused absences.  Exceptions to this rule may be made for students who have demonstrated to the teacher that through completion of make-up assignments that they have mastered the proficiency established for the course of study or at the discretion of the principal.

Procedures For Promotion and Retention

A.        Academic Progress

Promotion from one grade to another normally occurs at the end of the school year.  It is based on the pupil's achievement in the current grade and his/her anticipated ability to perform the work of the next grade level.  Consideration will be given to the total development of each individual child.

B.        Individual Student Improvement Plan (ISIP)

1.         Early Identification

Early identification of learning difficulties is essential in order to provide prompt, effective treatment and avoid the development of a pattern of failure.  Therefore, no later than the end of the second marking period, any pupil being considered by the classroom teacher as possibly not meeting acceptable levels of academic progress, will receive appropriate additional assistance in the areas of weakness for the remainder of the school year to provide that pupil with every opportunity to meet acceptable standards.  Such remedies include, but are not limited to, remedial instruction, referral to the school screening committee, inclusion in the intervention program, peer tutoring, and the development of an ISIP.

2.         Retained Students

Each school has the responsibility for the development of a perspective program designed to meet the needs of those pupils who are retained.  (N.J.A.C. 6:8-3.8)  At each school, the teacher who retains the pupil has the responsibility for the development of an Individual Student Improvement Plan (ISIP).  In developing such a prescriptive plan, the teacher utilizes the resources of the support staff, including administrators, remedial staff, and child study team members.

C.        Parental Notice

In all instances of possible retention, the child's parent(s) or legal guardian(s) shall be kept informed throughout the year of the child's lack of progress and their cooperation sought in helping him/her to do better work.  The parent(s) or legal guardian(s) shall be invited to a meeting with the teacher, Principal, and other appropriate staff members, no later than the end of February to discuss the matter.  His discussion shall consist of an explanation to the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) of the child's current academic standing in relationship to the group and his/her own ability.  Goals will be set for the third quarter.  At the beginning of June, another meeting will be held to review the goals and the child's progress.  At this time, the Principal shall make the decision of retention.

D.         Retention Notification and Parental Involvement in the Design of the ISIP

When at the end of the school year, it becomes apparent that a pupil has not made satisfactory progress toward grade level proficiencies, the Principal will notify the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) in writing, in English and in the home language of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s), that his/her child will be retained.  A parental conference will take place within ten school days of this notification to provide the opportunity to appeal the school's decision by providing additional facts and/or extenuating circumstances.

The final decision of retention remains with the Principal.  If that decision is to retain the pupil, the goals and objectives of the ISIP for the coming year will be explained to the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and the suggestions and recommendations of the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) will be given every consideration for inclusion in the new Individual Student Improvement Plan (ISIP).

N.J.S.A.           18A:35-4.9

Adopted:  26 July 2005

Revised:  28 January 2016