The district recognizes that not all students grow and develop at the same rate and that some students may need more time at a particular level. Students will be promoted to the next grade level at the end of each school year based upon the student’s achievement, age, maturity, emotional stability, and social adjustment.
The retention of a student will be determined based upon the judgment of the licensed employee and the principal. When it becomes evident a student in kindergarten through eighth grade may be retained in a grade level for an additional year, the parents will be informed as soon as possible. It is within the sole discretion of the superintendent, in consultation with the building principal, to retain students in their current grade level.
Students in ninth through twelfth grade will be informed of the required course work necessary to maintain adequate progress toward graduation. When it becomes evident a student in these grades will be unable to meet the minimum credit requirements for the year, the student and parents will be informed as soon as possible. It is within the sole discretion of the board to deny privileges to students based on their accumulated credits.
Students in seventh through twelfth grade with exceptional talents may, with the permission of the building principal and parents, take classes beyond their current grade level. Enrichment opportunities outside the district may be allowed when they do not conflict with the district's graduation requirements.
Approved 1994-95
Reviewed: FY 2015-2016, March 14, 2016, May 24,2021
Revised: 02/24/17
The following are rules and regulations that shall govern the procedures under which administrators, teachers, and any other staff personnel concerned with retention and promotion shall operate at the following levels:
Kindergarten through Sixth Grade
A. Criteria to be Considered
1. Academic Achievement;
2. Intellectual Ability;
3. Social Maturity;
4. Emotional Maturity;
5. Physical Development;
6. Chronological Age;
7. Language Development; and
8. Attendance.
B. Procedures
1. The classroom teacher will inform the principal/designee of his/her intent to discuss retention/promotion with parents/guardians before the parents/guardians are approached.
2. The classroom teacher will hold a face-to-face conference with the parents/ guardians to initiate the possibility of retention/promotion.
3. If possible, initial discussions with parents/guardians regarding retention/promotion should take place during the first semester.
4. The parents/guardians and teacher should consider the student’s attitude regarding retention/promotion before the final decision is made.
5. Parents/guardians and staff should strive to make a final decision by the end of the third quarter, but in no case later than the last school day of the year.
6. The classroom teacher, parents/guardians, and principal/designee shall reach a joint decision regarding retention/promotion of the student. However, in the event of a disagreement, the parents/guardians shall have the final decision regarding retention since they have ultimate responsibility for their student’s education.
7. Students shall not be retained more than one time during their school experience.
8. The classroom teacher’s recommendation to retain a student shall be placed in writing in the student’s cumulative record regardless of the final decision. This written record shall list the reasons for the recommendation. This written recommendation will remain a part of the cumulative record but will not be a part of the permanent record. The parents/guardians’ signature to indicate they have seen the written recommendation shall be incorporated into the record.
Seventh Grade through Eighth Grade
A. Criteria to be Considered
1. Academic Achievement
2. Intellectual Ability
3. Social Maturity
4. Emotional Maturity
5. Physical Development
6. Chronological Age
7. Language Development
8. Attendance
B. Procedures
1. If more than two (2) courses are failed after completing any district-implemented success program, a meeting to discuss full-grade retention will be held between the parent/guardians and the building principal.
3. The parent/guardians and the building principal will reach a joint decision regarding retention of the student. However, in the event of a disagreement, the parent/guardians shall have the final decision regarding the grade level placement of the students. Students will be required to repeat course work failed in the previous school year prior to being promoted to course work at the next grade level.
Approved: 10/16/14
Reviewed: FY 2015-2016, March 14, 2016, May 24,2021
Revised: 02/24/17
The Columbus School District is committed to ensuring the integrity of the information obtained from the use of educational assessments. This regulation is intended to apply to two assessments in particular; the assessment used to meet the reporting requirement under the No Child Left Behind Act and the assessment used to meet the reporting requirements for the Annual Progress Report to the Iowa Department of Education.
The purpose of this policy is to identify procedures that can ensure assessment results are truly representative of the achievement of students in the district. It is also the district’s intent to create awareness of the potential negative impact that inappropriate assessment practices might produce, to outline processes to be followed, and to identify the potential consequences of violating the policy. If test scores become questionable because of inappropriate practices in either preparing students or in administering tests, the meaning of the scores will be distorted and their value for their original purpose will be diminished or lost.
Appointment of District Test Coordinator
The district shall appoint a District Test Coordinator, who may in turn delegate responsibility for testing-related functions to one or more building test coordinators. The district Test Coordinator is the high school principal. The district Test Coordinator is responsible for storing materials from Iowa Testing Programs in a secure area with restricted access both prior to and after the testing period.
Test Preparation
As a function of educating students, staff may prepare students for assessments by providing instruction in the content areas to be assessed. Staff may also prepare students for assessments by teaching general test-taking skills that are applicable to any test or test format.
Administration of Tests
In the administration of standardized tests, it is a violation of test security to do any of the following:
1. Provide inappropriate test preparation such as any of the following:
a. Copy, reproduce, or use in any manner any portion of any secure test booklet, for any reason.
b. Share an actual test instrument in any form.
c. Use test preparation materials or strategies developed specifically for Annual Progress Reporting or the Annual Yearly Progress report.
2. Deviate from the test administration procedures specified in the test examiner’s manual.
3. Provide inappropriate assistance to students during the test administration.
4. Make test answers available to students.
5. Change or fill in answers on student answer documents.
6. Provide inaccurate data on student answer documents.
7. Engage in any practice to artificially raise student scores without actually improving underlying student achievement.
8. Participate in, direct, aid, counsel, assist, encourage, or fail to report any of the acts prohibited in this regulation policy.
After testing is completed, test booklets are to be returned according to procedures established by the district Test Coordinator.
Consequences of Policy Violations
If a violation of this policy occurs, as determined by the superintendent following an investigation of allegations of irregularities, the superintendent shall determine whether the integrity of the testing program has been jeopardized, whether some or all of the test results are invalidated, and whether a teacher or administrator has violated the Code of Ethics of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners.
Reports of students cheating on assessments shall be submitted to the building principal for investigation and disciplinary action.
A staff member found to have committed testing irregularities shall be subject to discipline in accordance with law and Board policy. If the staff member is a licensee of the board of Educational Examiners, the superintendent shall make a timely report to that Board.
If the superintendent believes that assessment results are invalid, the superintendent shall make a timely report to the Iowa Department of Education.
Approved 1994-95
Reviewed: FY 2015-2016, March 14, 2016, May 24,2021
Revised: 02/24/17