School Board Policy Manual
Nevis Public Schools
Independent School District 308
School Board Policy 513
513 STUDENT PROMOTION, RETENTION, AND PROGRAM DESIGN
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to provide guidance to professional staff, parents and students regarding student promotion, retention and program design.
II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY
The school board expects all students to achieve at an acceptable level of proficiency. Parental assistance, tutorial and remedial programs, counseling and other appropriate services shall be coordinated and utilized to the greatest extent possible to help students succeed in school.
A. Promotion
Students who achieve at levels deemed acceptable by local and state standards shall be promoted to the next grade level at the completion of each school year. Promotion shall be attained by successful completion of the following credits:
Sophomore – 7 credits
Junior – 14 credits
Senior – 22 creditsStudents shall repeat 7 th and 8 th grade if they have received no credit (F) in four or more classes.
Students need 30 credits to graduate.
Grade level may change at semester time if student has earned enough credits added to semester 2 credits to advance to the next grade level the following year.
B. Retention
Retention of a student may be considered when professional staff and parents feel that it is in the best interest of the student. Physical development, maturity, and emotional factors shall be considered as well as scholastic achievement. The superintendent’s decision shall be final.
If a student's work indicates that he or she might fail for the year, the parent/guardian should be notified early so that there is no misunderstanding.
Elementary teachers should send warning letters of concern of retention by
January 31 . If it appears that a senior is to fail, the same rule should apply. Keeping a parent informed is an important teacher responsibility . It is also important to notify parents of excellent work and positive behavior and cooperation changes.
C. Program Design
The superintendent, with participation of the professional staff and parents, shall develop and implement programs to challenge students that are consistent with the needs of students at every level. A procedure for screening and identifying students for program assignment shall be developed in coordination with such programs. Opportunities for special programs and placement outside of the school district shall also be developed as additional options.
1. Post Secondary Education Options (PSEO)
Junior or Senior students who are in the top 25% of their class may qualify to attend PSEO. PSEO classes taken will count towards the student's grade point average.
PSEO credits will transfer back to Nevis school as follows:
5 credit class = 1.25, 4 credit class - 1.0, 3 credit = .75, 2 credit = .5 and 1 credit = .25
2. College in the High School
Students with at least 3.0000 GPA may enroll for college credit through University of Minnesota Crookston.
3. Student Work Program
Students on a work program must maintain passing grades to continue on the program.
If a student on the program earns time in AR they must stay in AR all day and not go to work that day. It is the student's responsibility to inform their employer.
Students must enroll in the program through the Career Guidance Counselor.
4. Teamworks
To be enrolled in this alternative program students must get information from the Principal's office.
5. Nevis Area Learning Exploration Program
Students enrolling in ALP must meet the following criteria: Performs substantially below the performance level for pupils of the same age in a locally determined achievement test, is at least one year behind in satisfactorily completing coursework or obtaining credits for graduation, is pregnant or is a parent, has been assessed as chemically dependent, has been excluded or expelled from school, is a victim of physical or sexual abuse, has experienced mental health problems, has experienced homelessness sometime within last six months, speaks English as a second language or has limited English proficiency (LEP), or has withdrawn from school or has been chronically truant.
Legal References:
Minn. Stat. § 123B.143, Subd. 1 (Superintendents)
Cross References:
School Board Policy 613 (Graduation Requirements)
School Board Policy 614 (School District Testing Plan and Procedure)
School Board Policy 615 (Basic Standards Testing, Accommodations, Modifications, and Exemptions for IEP, Section 504 Accommodation, and LEP Students)
School Board Policy 617 (School District Ensurance of Preparatory and High School Standards)
School Board Policy 618 (Assessment of Standard Achievement)
School Board Policy 620 (Credit for Learning)