Students shall take a predetermined number and type of courses to graduate.  Where students have a choice in course offerings, the school district will try to allow students to take the course of their choice.  Courses with limited space will be allocated to those who first apply for the course or need it for graduation.

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop the course offerings for each year for the grade levels. 

 

 

Cross Reference:         
505      Student Scholastic Achievement

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

 

Students shall receive a progress report each of each grading period.  Students, who are doing poorly, and their parents, shall be notified prior to the end of each grading period in order to have an opportunity to improve their grade.  The board encourages the notification of students who have made marked improvement prior to the end of each grading period.

Parent-teacher conferences will be held prior to the end of each grading period to keep the parents informed.  The conferences at the middle or high school are not individually scheduled.

Parents, teachers, or principals may request a conference for students in grades pre-kindergarten through twelve in addition to the scheduled conference time.  Parents and students are encouraged to discuss the student's progress or other matters with the student's teacher.

 

 

Cross Reference:         
505      Student Scholastic Achievement
506      Student Records

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

 

Students will be promoted to the next grade level at the end of each school year based on the student's achievement, age, maturity, emotional stability, and social adjustment.

The district shall adhere to the following:

• Retention/Promotion in kindergarten – eighth grade: The retention of a student will be determined based upon the judgment of professional staff. When it becomes evident a student in grades kindergarten through eight may be retained in a grade level for an additional year, the parents will be informed prior to making the retention decision. It is within the sole discretion of the district to retain students in their current grade level and to deny promotion to a student.

• Retention/Promotion in ninth – twelfth grade: Students in grades nine through twelve will be informed of the required course work necessary to be promoted each year. 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. It is within the sole discretion of the district to retain students in their current grade level and to deny promotion to a student.

• Acceleration in kindergarten – twelfth grade: Students in grades kindergarten through twelve with exceptional talents may, with the permission of the principal and parents, take classes beyond their current grade level. Enrichment opportunities outside the school district may be allowed when they do not conflict with the school district's graduation requirements.

• Retention or Acceleration in kindergarten – twelfth grade may also occur in additional instances as provided by law.

Any student or parent who is not satisfied with the decision of the district’s professional staff may seek recourse through policy 502.4 – Student Complaints and Grievances

 

 

Cross Reference:         
501      Student Attendance
505      Student Scholastic Achievement
603.2   Summer School Instruction

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

 

The school district shall provide a program that establishes honors and awards including, but not limited to, academic letters, scholarships and good citizenship awards for students to assist students in setting goals.  Students shall be made aware of honors and awards and the action necessary on the part of the student to achieve them. 

Students who have not attended an accredited public or private school for their entire high school education, will not be eligible for honors and awards. 

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop the administrative regulations regarding this policy.

 

 

Cross Reference:         
504      Student Activities
505      Student Scholastic Achievement

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

 

A comprehensive testing program is established and maintained to evaluate the education program of the school district and to assist in providing guidance or counseling services to students and their families.

No student is required, as part of any applicable program, to submit to a survey, analysis or evaluation that reveals information concerning:

• political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent:
• mental or psychological problems of the student or the student's family;
• sex behavior or attitudes;
• illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
• critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
• legally recognized, privileged and analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians and ministers;
• religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent; or
• income,(other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).

It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

It is the responsibility of the board to review and approve the evaluation and testing program.

 

 

Cross Reference:         
505      Student Scholastic Achievement
506      Student Records
607.2   Student Health Services

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

 

Requirements

Students must successfully complete the courses required by the Board and the Iowa Department of Education in order to graduate.  

The Superintendent will ensure that students complete grades one through twelve and that high school students complete 50 credits prior to graduation.  The following credits will be required:

Language Arts            8    credits

Science                          6    credits

Mathematics                6    credits

Social Studies             6    credits

Physical Education    4    semesters

Electives                      20  credits

The required courses of study will be reviewed by the Board annually.

Graduation requirements for special education students will be in accordance with the prescribed course of study as described in their Individualized Education Program (IEP). Each student's IEP will include a statement of the projected date of graduation at least 18 months in advance of the projected date and the criteria to be used in determining whether graduation will occur. Prior to the special education student's graduation, the IEP team shall determine whether the graduation criteria have been met.  

Beginning with the class of 2022, graduation requirements for special education students will include successful completion of four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and three years of science.

Early Graduation

Generally, students will be required to complete the necessary course work and graduate from high school at the end of grade twelve.  Students may graduate prior to this time if they meet the minimum graduation requirements stated in board policy.

A student who graduates early will no longer be considered a student and will become a District. However, the student who graduates early may participate in that year's prom and commencement exercises.

Commencement

Students who have met the requirements for graduation will be allowed to participate in the commencement proceedings provided they abide by the proceedings organized by the District. The Principal will solicit input from each graduating class regarding the proceedings for their commencement.

Failure of a student to participate in commencement will not be a reason for withholding the student's final progress report or diploma certifying the student's completion of high school

 

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

Revised:  April 2022

 

Generally, students will be required to complete the necessary course work and graduate from high school at the end of grade twelve.  Students may graduate prior to this time if they meet the minimum graduation requirements stated in board policy.

A student who graduates early will no longer be considered a student and will become an alumnus of the school district.  However, the student who graduates early may participate in that year's prom and commencement exercises.

 

 

Cross Reference:         
505      Student Scholastic Achievement

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

 

Students who have met the requirements for graduation will be allowed to participate in the commencement proceedings provided they abide by the proceedings organized by the school district.  It shall be the responsibility of the principal to solicit input from each graduating class regarding the proceedings for their commencement.

Failure of a student to participate in commencement will not be a reason for withholding the student's final progress report or diploma certifying the student's completion of high school.

 

 

Cross Reference:         
505      Student Scholastic Achievement

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

 

In meeting the needs of the students, the board may grant credit by performance testing for course work which is ordinarily included in the school district curriculum.  Students wishing to receive credit by testing shall have the approval of the superintendent prior to taking the test.  Testing for credit may only be utilized prior to the offering of a course.  Once the course has begun, students must attend the class and complete the required work for credit.

 

 

Cross Reference:         
505      Student Scholastic Achievement

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016

 

Parental involvement is an important component in a student’s success in school.  The board encourages parents to become involved in their child’s education to ensure the child’s academic success.  The board will:

(In each of the following six items, the board must describe in policy how it will accomplish each of the items.)

1. how the board will involve parents in the development of the Title I plan, the process for school review of the plan and the process for improvement;

2. how the board will provide the coordination, technical assistance and other support necessary to assist participating schools in planning and implementing effective parent involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance;

3. build the schools’ and parents’ capacity for strong parental involvement;

4. coordinate and integrate parental involvement strategies under Title I with other programs such as Head Start, Reading First, etc.;

5. conduct with the involvement of parents, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the parental involvement policy in improving the academic quality of the school served including identifying barriers to greater participation by parents in Title I activities (with particular attention to low-income parents, Limited English Proficient (LEP) parents, minorities, parents with disabilities and parents with low literacy) and use the findings of the evaluation to design strategies for more effective parental involvement and to revise, as necessary, the parental involvement policies; and

6. involve parents in Title I activities.

The board will review this policy annually.  The superintendent is responsible for notifying parents of this policy annually or within a reasonable time after it has been amended during the school year.  It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy

 

 

Cross References:        
904.2   Community Resource Persons and Volunteers

Approved:  March 2007
Reviewed:  October 2016