CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD POLICY MANUAL

POLICY GROUP 2 INSTRUCTION

PROMOTION, RETENTION, AND REMEDIATION POLICY

PG-2.20.1

Promotion
A student may be promoted only on the basis of academic achievement or demonstrated
proficiency of the subject matter of the course or grade level as stated under TEC
28.021(a).Harmony Public Schools (School) shall consider the following in determining
promotion as outlined under TEC 28.021(c).
Yearly Average
Students in grades 1-8 must achieve an overall cumulative average of 70 or above for
all subject areas. For core subjects including Reading/English Language Arts,
Mathematics, Social Studies and Science students in grades 1-8 must maintain an
end of the year average of 70 or higher for promotion.
NWEA MAP
Students in grades 1-8 must score in both Reading AND Mathematics NWEA MAP
testing at or above the 10th percentile at least once throughout the current school year.
Campus may apply for a waiver for NWEA MAP promotion standard (as low as 7th
percentile) within their district. If a student passes STAAR assessments in Reading
and Mathematics then that student will be exempt from NWEA MAP promotion
requirement.
Satisfactory Performance on STAAR Assessments
In accordance with the TEC 28.0211(a) students in grades 5 & 8 must perform
satisfactorily on the Mathematics and Reading STAAR assessments, grade
advancement tests. School reserves the right to retain a student failing STAAR
Assessments for grades 3rd through 8th.
Kindergarten Promotion
For students in kindergarten promotion to the next grade shall be based on the
evidence of satisfactory progress with an emphasis on Reading and Mathematics.
Evidence for promotion may include assessment of the students reading/math level,
information from the students daily work, report cards, anecdotal records, and teacher
recommendation.
High School Promotion
In grades 9-12, grade-level advancement shall be earned by course credits. To be
promoted from one grade level to the next, a student in grades 9-12 must have met
the following criteria:
must have acquired at least six credits to be promoted to 10th Grade
must have acquired at least twelve credits to be promoted to 11th Grade
must have acquired at least eighteen credits to be promoted to 12th Grade

DATE REVISED: May 4, 2016

1 of 3

CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD POLICY MANUAL

POLICY GROUP 2 INSTRUCTION
PROMOTION, RETENTION, AND REMEDIATION POLICY

PG-2.20.1

Retention
Students in danger of consideration for retention will receive a written request for a
mandatory conference between February and May.
Kindergarten Retention
In kindergarten, retention shall be considered only in unusual circumstances and with
the approval of the students parents. A written recommendation for retention,
including suggestions for assistance for the student shall be signed by the students
teacher, parent, and the principal.
Parental Notification
Whenever the School is required to notify a parent or guardian about the requirements
related to promotion and retention, the School shall make a good-faith effort to ensure
that the notice is provided either in person or by regular mail, is clear and easy to
understand, and is written in English or in the parent or guardians native language.
Grade Placement Committee
After a student identified as at risk of failing, a GPC shall be established to prescribe
the accelerated instruction the student is to receive.
In accordance with 19 TAC 101.2006(d), decisions by the GPC shall be made on an
individual student basis, address required participation of the student in accelerated
instruction, and ensure the most effective instruction to support the students academic
achievement on grade level.
The GPC shall be composed of the Principal or the Principals designee, the students
parent or guardian, and the students teacher.
If a parent or guardian or designee is unable to attend a meeting, the School may use
other methods to ensure parent participation, including individual or conference
telephone calls. The School may designate another person to act on behalf of the
student in place of a parent, guardian, or designee if no such person can be located.
A surrogate parent named to act on behalf of a student with a disability shall be
considered a parent for this purpose. The School shall make a good faith effort to
notify a parent or guardian to attend the GPC. If the parent or guardian is unavailable,
the remaining members of the GPC must convene and take all necessary actions
required.
Retention and Appeal
A student who fails to satisfy Schools promotion standards shall be retained at the same
grade level for the next school year. The parent or guardian may appeal the retention by
submitting a request to the district office within five working days of receipt of the retention
notification.

DATE REVISED: May 4, 2016

2 of 3

CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD POLICY MANUAL

POLICY GROUP 2 INSTRUCTION
PROMOTION, RETENTION, AND REMEDIATION POLICY

PG-2.20.1

If an appeal is initiated by the parent or guardian, the district office may decide in favor of
promotion only if the district office concludes, upon review of all facts and circumstances,
and in accordance with standards adopted by the Board, that the student is likely to
perform on grade level given additional accelerated instruction during the next school
year.
The district offices decision regarding placement is final and may not be appealed.
Transfer Students
A student who has been promoted upon completion of a school year in a school other
than a Texas public school may be enrolled in that grade without regard to whether the
student has successfully satisfied Schools promotion standards. This does not limit the
Schools ability to appropriately place such a student.
Limited English Proficient Students
Limited English Proficient (LEP) students are expected to meet the same promotion
criteria as their same age, same grade, unless Language Proficiency Assessment
Committee (LPAC) lowers NWEA MAP promotion standard based on students English
proficiency level. The GPC for a LEP student shall make its decisions in consultation with
a member of the students LPAC.
Special Education Students
Diverse Learners receiving special education and related services under an Individualized
Education Program (IEP) are expected to meet the same promotion criteria as their same
age, same grade, non-disabled peers unless the IEP modifies the promotion criteria in
whole or in part (this includes English Learners with an IEP). Any modified promotion
standards for a student receiving special education services shall be determined by the
students admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee and documented in the
students individualized education program (IEP).
Remediation
The following strategies may be used for students at risk of retention:
Tutorials (After school, Saturday, etc)
Classroom grouping
Peer tutoring
Summer school
Computer-assisted instruction
Remedial classes
Pull out programs
Interventions
Blended learning
Guided Study

DATE REVISED: May 4, 2016

3 of 3