Students shall receive a progress report at the end of each grading period.  Students, who are performing poorly, and their parents, shall be notified prior to the end of the semester 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 the semester.

Parent-teacher conferences will be held at least once a year to keep the parents informed.

Parents of children in grades kindergarten through grade 3 will be informed of their individual child's performance on diagnostic assessments at least biannually.

Parents, teachers or principals may request a conference for students in grades preschool 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.

 

 

Approved:  7-1-92                 
Reviewed:  1-8-01, 12-8-03, 12-1-06, 2-10-10, 1-15-13, 7-13-15, 7-8-19
Revised:  7-9-01, 4-10-23

 

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 school 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 the school district’s 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 school 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 coursework 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 school 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. 

For students in grades kindergarten through sixth, if a student is not reading at a proficient level, the district will notify a student’s parent or guardian of the student’s reading level, and the option for parents to request that the student be retained in the student’s current grade level for the subsequent school year.  The district is prohibited from promoting a student to the next grade level if the student is not reading proficiently, and the student’s parent or guardian requests the student be retained at their current grade level for the next year.

Any student or parent who is not satisfied with the decision of the district’s professional staff may seek recourse through board policy.

 

Approved:                  
Reviewed:  12-12-94, 01-08-01, 12-08-03, 12-11-06, 02-10-10, 01-15-13, 7-13-15, 7-8-19
Revised:  12-14-15, 9-20-17, 4-10-23, 8-21-24

 

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.

 

 

Approved:  5-9-95     
Reviewed:  1-8-01, 12-8-03, 12-11-06, 2-10-10, 1-15-13, 7-13-15
Revised:  4-10-23

 

Code No.  505.4

 

TESTING PROGRAM

 

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, funded by the United States Department of Education, 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

 

without the prior consent of the student if the student is an adult or emancipated minor, or in the case of an unemancipated minor, without the prior written consent of the parent.

 

Prior to an employee or contractor of the district providing information on a student enrolled in the district on any survey related to the social or emotional abilities, competencies or characteristics of the student; the district will provide the parent/guardian of the student detailed information related to the survey and obtain written consent of the parent/guardian of the student.  This includes the person who created the survey, the person who sponsors the survey, how the information generated by the survey is used and how information generated by the survey is stored. This requirement will not prohibit a district employee from answering questions related to a student enrolled in the district as part of developing or implementing an individualized education program for the student.

 

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.

 

 

 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

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

It is the responsibility of the principal to 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:

English/Language Arts 8  credits

Science 6  credits

Mathematics 6  credits

Social Studies 6 credits

Includes US Govt 2 credits

Includes AM Hist 2 credits

Health 2 credits

Workplace Readiness 1 credit

Physical Education 2 credits

STEM electives 4 credits

Humanities electives 4 credits

Successful completion of Titan’s J.A.M (Journey of Academic Mastery) Portfolio is a non-credit graduation requirement.

Prior to graduation, the school district will advise students on how to successfully complete the free application for federal student aid.

Graduation requirements for special education students include successful completion of four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and three years of science. 

Students who complete a regular session in the Legislative Page Program of the general assembly at the state capitol will be credited 1/2 credit of social studies.

Students enrolled in a junior officers’ training corp will be credited1/8th physical education credit for each semester the student is enrolled in the program.

Approved:

Reviewed:  1-8-01, 12-08-03, 12-11-06,

Revised:  June 07, 03-09-09

1-15-13,4-10-23, 1-17-24

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.  In such cases, the student must have the approval of the board and a recommendation by the superintendent and the principal.

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

 

 

Approved:  07-01-92             
Reviewed:  12-12-94, 12-08-97, 01-08-01, 12-08-03, 12-11-06, 02-10-10, 01-15-13, 7-13-15
Revised:  4-10-23

 

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 reason for withholding the student's final progress report or diploma certifying the student's completion of high school.

 

 

Approved:  01-08-90              
Reviewed:  12-12-94, 12-08-97, 01-08-01, 12-08-03, 12-00-06, 02-10-10, 01-15-13, 7-13-15
Revised:  07-01-92, 4-10-23

 

Parent and family engagement is an important component in a student’s success in school.  The board encourages parents and families to become involved in their child’s education to ensure the child’s academic success.  In order to facilitate parent and family involvement, it is the goal of the school district to conduct outreach and implement programs, activities, and procedures to further involve parents and families with the academic success of their students.  The board will:

(1)    Involve parents and families in the development of the Title I plan, the process for school review of the plan, and the process for improvement;

(2)    Provide the coordination, technical assistance, and other support necessary to assist and build the capacity of all participating schools in planning and implementing effective parent and family involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance;

(3)    To the extent feasible, coordinate and integrate parent and family engagement strategies under Title I with parent and family engagement strategies outlined in other relevant Federal, State, and local laws and programs by coordinating with all other agencies when appropriate;

(4)    Conduct, with the involvement of parents and family members, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the parent and family engagement 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, parents of any racial or ethnic minority, parents with disabilities, and parents with limited literacy needs of parents and family to assist their children’s learning; and strategies to support successful school and family interactions;

(5)    Use the findings of the annual evaluation to design strategies for more effective parent and family involvement and to revise, as necessary, the parent and family involvement policies; and;

(6)    Involve parents and families in Title I activities in funding.

The board will review this policy annually.  The superintendent is responsible for notifying parents and families of this policy annually or within a reasonable time after it has been amended during the school year.  The superintendent may develop an administrative process or procedures to implement this policy. 

 

 

Approved:  1/13/03                    
Reviewed: 12/8/03, 12/11/06, 2/10/10, 1/15/13, 7/13/15
Revised: 12/12/16 , 7-10-17, 4-10-23