PROMOTION, PLACEMENT, AND RETENTION

PROMOTION, PLACEMENT, AND RETENTION

po5410Adopted June 20, 2016Revised August 20, 2025

5410 - PROMOTION, PLACEMENT, AND RETENTION

The Board of Education recognizes that the personal, social, physical, and educational growth of children will vary and that they should be placed in the educational setting most appropriate to their needs at the various stages of their growth.

It shall be the policy of the Board that each student be moved forward in a continuous pattern of achievement and growth appropriate for each student's development.

Definitions

Promotion: Occurs when a student is doing the quality of work that indicates the student has met the criteria established in this policy and AG 5410 and shall be moved forward to the next grade.

Placement: Occurs when a student is not doing the quality of work that indicates the student shall be promoted to the next grade, but a determination has been made that it is in the student's best interest to move forward to the next grade.  A placement determination is made by a team that includes the school psychologist, building teachers, and, with the concurrence of the building administrator.

Retention: Occurs when a student is not doing the quality of work that indicates the student should move forward to the next grade, and the student should repeat the current grade. A retention decision is made by a team that includes the school psychologist, building teachers, and, with the concurrence of the building administrator.

Such a pattern should coincide with the system of grade levels established by this Board and the instructional objectives established for each.

Following sound principles of child guidance, the Board discourages the skipping of grades.

For consideration of promotion or retention for students from grade three (3) to grade four (4) with respect to reading, see Policy 5411 - Third Grade Promotion and Retention: At-Risk Students.

Promotion from Grade 4 and Grade 8

A student shall be promoted from 4th to 5th grade when the student meets the following criteria:

  1. The student must score Approaching on at least three (3) of the subtests (if the scores are available by May 1). A student who does not meet these criteria or who does not take the Wisconsin 4th Grade Exam pursuant to Section F of this policy must satisfy the following criteria:
  2. A student must score a "2" or higher on 50% of the 4th Quarter  Progress Report. A student who does not meet this criteria must satisfy the following criterion:
  3. A review committee appointed by the principal shall consider if the student should be promoted to the 5th grade.

A student shall be promoted from 8th to 9th grade when the student meets the following criteria:

  1. The student must score Approaching on at least three of the subtests (if the scores are available by May 1). A student who does not meet these criteria or who does not take the Wisconsin 8th Grade Exam pursuant to Section F of this policy must satisfy the following criteria:
  2. A 60% score for the 2nd Semester of the 8th grade year in all four core areas.  A student who does not meet this criteria must satisfy the following criterion:
  3.  A review committee appointed by the principal shall consider if the student should be promoted to the 5th grade.  The review committee may also ask the student to successfully complete summer school.

Students who do not meet the above criteria will not be promoted to 5th or 9th grade.

Revised 5/18/22
Revised 3/22/23
T.C. 8/20/25

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