Policy 602-R Acceleration and Retention of Students Regulations

A. Criteria for Acceleration

The student may be considered for acceleration only if the following can be demonstrated clearly:

• A high level of academic achievement in all areas of the curriculum with special emphasis on reading, writing, and mathematics.
• Intellectual ability two (2) standard deviations above the norm on an individually administered IQ test approved by the school district.
• Social and emotional maturity.
• High degree of persistence.

B. Process for Acceleration

A request for acceleration should be directed to the building. Persons interested in requesting acceleration must complete the Request for Acceleration or Retention Application which can be obtained from the building principal. Once the building principal has a completed application, s/he will convene the building acceleration team.

C. Building Acceleration Team

The building acceleration team members include the building principal, psychologist, teacher and district gifted and talented coordinator and other members as appropriate. The building principal will convene the team to review the request and to make a recommendation. The building administrator and the gifted and talented coordinator make the final decision on all accelerations requests.

The building principal will notify the parent in writing of the final decision. If the parent/guardian(s) do not agree with the principal’s decision, the parents may appeal in writing to the executive director of teaching and learning.

D. Timeline

• By March 15 - New requests must be made in writing and submitted to the student’s counselor by March 15 of the preceding school year for first semester courses.
• By November 1 - Application for second semester courses must be made by November 1 of the school year.

Retention is the process of having a particular student repeat a grade.

A. Process for Retention
A request for retention should be directed to the build principal. Persons interested in requesting retention must complete the Request for Acceleration or Retention Application which can be obtained from the building principal. Once the building principal has a completed application, s/he will convene the building retention team.

B. Building Retention Team
The building retention team members include the building principal, district representative appointed by the executive director of teaching and learning, psychologist, teacher and other members as appropriate. The building principal will convene the team to review the request and to make a recommendation.

The building administrator in collaboration with the district administrative representative make the final decision on all retention requests. If the parent/guardian(s) do not agree with the decision, the parents may appeal in writing to the executive director of teaching and learning.

If the team decides to retain the student, an intensive individualized intervention plan with includes frequent progress monitoring must be implemented to ensure maximum benefit to the student.

C. Building Retention Review Process must include the following

• Attendance Records
• Academic Records
• Intervention Records (academic and social emotional)
• Discipline Records (If applicable)
• EL and SPED as appropriate

D. Timeline

• By March 15 - New requests must be made in writing and submitted to the building principal by March 15 of the preceding school year for first semester courses.

• Adopted: September 12, 1994
• Amended: August 14, 1995
• Amended: August 16, 2004
• Amended: September 17, 2018
• Amended: February 11, 2019
• Last Reviewed: February 11, 2019

• Policy 602 - Accelerations, Retention and Enrichment Program Design for Students
• Policy 602-R Form - Accelerations and Retention of Students