IKE - Promotion, Retention & Acceleration

 PROMOTION, RETENTION, AND ACCELERATION OF STUDENTS

 

It is the Acton School Committee’s intent to provide sequential instructional programming that provides equitable opportunity for students to acquire the knowledge and skills that will enable them to meet the content standards of the system of Learning Results at each grade level.  The School Committee recognizes that at every grade level, there are differences among students in their intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development, and that individual students may be more proficient in some content areas of the Learning Results than in others.  Students may also differ in their progress toward achieving the cross-curricular skills identified in the Guiding Principles of the Learning Results.

While most students will advance from one grade to another at the end of the academic year, some students may benefit from retention or acceleration.  Assignment of a student to a grade level should be consistent with the best educational interest of that student.


  1. Criteria

The following criteria will be used in making decisions concerning promotion, retention and acceleration.  Although all listed criteria may be considered in the decision-making process, because of the relationship between a student’s achievement of the content standards of the system of Learning Results and his/her future success in school, more consideration shall be given to the criterion articulated in paragraph “A” below than to any other factors.

   

  1. Achievement of the content standards of the Learning Results as demonstrated through classroom assessments, common assessments, standardized tests, portfolios, performances, exhibitions, projects and other elements of the school unit’s local assessment system;

  2. Achievement of cross-curricular skills associated with the Guiding Principles of the Learning Results. 

  3. Participation and success in remedial programs, tutoring, summer school, and/or other opportunities for success;

  4. Potential benefit from repetition of a grade or learning experiences;

  5. Potential for success if accelerated;

  6. Attendance;

  7. Social and emotional maturity;

  8. Health;

  9. Age in relation to grade placement;

  10. Program options;

  11. Student attitude; and

  12. Parental concerns.


  1. Retention

Parents should be notified as early as possible in the event that retention is being considered. Parents will be informed of the remediation options available to students such as tutoring, online/Internet-based resources, after-school programs, or summer school. Whenever possible, decisions concerning retention should involve parents, the student’s teacher, the Superintendent/Principal, and, as appropriate, the guidance counselor, other professional staff, and/or consultants. Advancement to the next grade may be conditional on successful remediation or demonstrated proficiency within a specified time period.

The Retention Committee shall be responsible for making the final decision regarding retention.  A parent who is dissatisfied with the Retention Committee’s decision may appeal to the Superintendent/Principal.  The Superintendent/Principal decision shall be considered final. 


  1. Acceleration 

Committed to the core value of accelerating all students, the Acton School Department offers a continuum of instructional resources within a proficiency-based learning system to support the varied and unique learning profiles of our students as they progress through the PreK-8 instructional programming. 

In rare and unusual circumstances, it may be in the student’s best educational interest to consider placement beyond the current or expected next grade level.  Requests for this consideration must be made in writing by the parent/guardian to the Superintendent/Principal and shall include a rationale for request.  The Superintendent/Principal will conduct a comprehensive review of the student’s academic and social emotional profile to include achievement data, attendance and citizenship records, teacher consultation, curriculum review and other pertinent information. The 

Superintendent/Principal will determine and communicate in writing to the parent/guardian a decision about the appropriateness of advanced grade placement.  The Superintendent/Principal’s decision shall be considered final.

        

E. Transfer Students

For students who transfer into the school system from another state or educational program not required to meet the content standards of the system of Learning Results, the Superintendent/Principal will determine the value of the student’s prior educational experience for the purpose of grade placement or the fulfillment of credits.

Legal Reference: Ch. 127 (Me. Dept. of Ed. Rule)

Cross Reference: IK – Proficiency Based Learning System

   

Adopted:   August 13, 2019