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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 14-18 WA Amending the Promotion and Retention policy WESTLAKE ACADEMY RESOLUTION 14-18 A RESOLUTION OF THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES ADDING LANGUAGE TO THE PROMOTION AND RETENTION POLICY STATING THAT STUDENTS MUST PASS THE ASSOCIATED COURSE WORK TAKEN DURING SUMMER SCHOOL OR VIA AN APPROVED ALTERANTIVE EDUCATION COURSE IN ORDER TO RECEIVE CREDIT FOR THE CLASS. WHEREAS, the Westlake Academy Board of Trustees desires to amend the policy manual through the update of the Promotion and Retention policy document; and, WHEREAS, Westlake Academy Board of Trustees fords that this policy will enhance student achievement, clarify the Board's directives, and provide for an environment where students may reach "their highest individual potential"; and, WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees finds that the passage of this Resolution is in the best interest of the citizens of Westlake as well as the students, their parents, and faculty of Westlake Academy. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF WESTLAKE ACADEMY: SECTION 1: That, all matters stated in the recitals hereinabove are found to be true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference as if copied in their entirety. SECTION 2: That, the Board of Trustees Westlake Academy, hereby approves the new Promotion and Retention policy for Westlake Academy attached to this resolution as Exhibit Cf Af: SECTION 3: If any portion of this resolution shall, for any reason, be declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof and the Council hereby determines that it would have adopted this Resolution without the invalid provision. Resolution 14-18 Page 1 of 6 SECTION 4: That this resolution shall become effective from and after its date of passage. PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS 17th DAY OF NOVEMBER 2014. Laura Wheat, President ATTEST: U)-ujj—VFd t Kelly tdwards63oard Secretary Thomas E. Brymer uperintendent APPRO ST O >� J et S. Bub k Stanton Lowry, School Attorney Resolution 14-18 Page 2 of 6 Exhibit A TOWN OF WESTLAKE WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES POLICY Policy No. 6.12: (Combined with 6.08) Date Board Adopted: November 3, 2009 Date Board Amended: November 17, 2014 Effective Date: November 17, 2014 Policy Name: Promotion and Retention Policy Policy Category: Student Achievement Policy Goal: Describe the standards for promotion based on mastery of curriculum and the criteria/circumstances for consideration of student retention based on unsatisfactory academic achievement. Policy Description: The curriculum of Westlake Academy as an IB World School requires students to embark on the rigorous International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) coursework found in the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and the Diploma Programme. The curriculum content aligns the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) requirements and the IBO learning outcomes. Instructional programs shall be developed at each grade level to implement the curriculum in a manner that supports the Academy's vision to "...inspire students to achieve their highest individual potential." In order to ensure academic achievement and the mastery of the necessary skills to advance to each subsequent grade level, the Staff of Westlake Academy will develop specific guidelines and procedures for instructional programs and course content, which will be published in the Parent/Student Handbook on an annual basis. Instructional programs are developed with the expectation that students will progress through the curriculum for one grade level each academic year. Promotion Students shall be promoted based on academic achievement and demonstrated proficiency of the subject matter or grade level. In addition to other factors that must be considered for promotion under state law, mastery of the curriculum for a particular grade/subject will generally be determined based on a final passing grade of 70 or higher and demonstrated mastery of the skills necessary for success at the next level. Resolution 14-18 Page 3 of 6 To evaluate a student's mastery of the curriculum, principals may review and consider the following when making recommendations and/or decisions related to promotion: • School-work and achievement records for the student (internal assessments, report cards, etc.) • Recommendations from current or previous instructors/teachers • External standardized achievement exams (mandatory state assessments, the International School's Assessment and other tests deemed appropriate by the Executive Principal or his/her designee) In addition to the above considerations, all promotion decisions must comply with applicable state law related to performance on required state assessments. A student may not be promoted to a sixth grade program if the student does not perform satisfactorily on the fifth grade mathematics and reading assessment instruments; and a student may not be promoted to the ninth grade program if the student has not performed satisfactorily on the eighth grade mathematics and reading assessment instruments unless an exception applies under the state assessment requirements that exempts the student from administration of the fifth or eighth grade assessments. Tex. Educ. Code 28.0211(a). The Academy is not precluded from retaining, in accordance with state law, a student who performs satisfactorily on a grade advancement test. Tex. Educ. Code 28.0211(g). Advanced Promotion The Board also recognizes that a student may progress at an advanced rate such that the student is prepared to pursue coursework in a grade or subject area above the student's corresponding grade level based on age. The principal and/or a parent may initiate a request for a student to advance beyond the next grade level or in a particular subject area beyond the next grade level. In responding to such a request, the principal will review all the data identified above for promotion decisions as well as the following additional information: • Teacher recommendations that include social-emotional aspects and maturity of the student, and the student's attitude toward learning and independent study in order to help determine the potential success of the student in the promoted course/grade • Documentation of additional academic work completed outside the normal classroom hours, and activities (academic competitions, summer camps, advanced tutoring programs, and/or on-line coursework, etc.) • If deemed necessary, performance on additional assessment(s) identified by the principal to determine the appropriate placement of the student and the student's ability to advance in the applicable coursework. Resolution 14-18 Page 4 of 6 Credit for Graduation Requirements Credit must be earned for any course required for graduation. A student seeking credit for a course without receiving instruction in the course from Westlake Academy must meet all of the criteria for promotion along with the following: 1. The student shall complete a standardized exam, such as the Texas Tech high school exit-level course(s) or a similar assessment from a credit-awarding institution. The student must achieve a score of at least 90% or higher in order to receive credit for the course at the Academy. 2. All exams must be pre-approved by the principal(s). 3. The student shall be responsible for any associated exam fees required by the testing institution. Upon receipt of a request for credit under this section, the principal(s) should complete the review and consideration of the identified criteria within 15 days of the initial request and communicate a decision to the student and parents regarding whether the proposed alternative for obtaining credit will be accepted by Westlake Academy. Retention If either a parent or the Academy identifies a concern regarding a student's ability to advance to the next grade level, state and/or internal assessments may be administered to assist the Academy in determining if a student has attained the necessary educational understanding to advance. Additional evaluation may include, but is not limited to, consideration of grade/subject specific examinations, essays, homework assignments, group and individual projects, and state mandated assessments. Summer School/Alternative Educational Programs Students, who do not meet the necessary requirements for advancement, must complete comparable coursework in summer school or through an alternative education program in order to avoid retention at the current grade level. A student who fails two (2) or more core classes may not advance to the next grade level. Students who do not satisfactorily complete a course required by the state or the Academy for high school graduation must complete the course through a summer or alternative educational program approved in advance by the Executive Principal/Director of Education or his/her designee prior to being considered for graduation from Westlake Academy. Students who fail a core course must satisfactorily complete and attain a passing grade in the class during the summer session immediately following the academic year in which the class was failed to avoid retention. If the course is not offered at Westlake Academy, it is the parent/guardian's responsibility to locate a summer school or alternative educational program within their Resolution 14-18 Page 5 of 6 home district for remediation that is acceptable for credit and approved by the Executive Principal/Director of Education or his/her designee. Westlake Academy reserves the right to accept or deny summer school credit. Prior to attending summer school or any alternative educational program, parents and students should obtain written approval from the Executive Principal/Director of Education or his/her designee to ensure that the program is acceptable to the Academy and to identify the required standards for the student to transfer the credit to the Academy. State Assessments and Remediation The Board of Trustees and the Staff of Westlake Academy are committed to student success on state-mandated assessments and take seriously the obligation to provide students the assistance they need to support an opportunity for students to succeed. All students at state-mandated assessment testing grade levels (Grades 3-11), will be taught the content contained within the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum to ensure appropriate readiness for the successful completion of all state- mandated assessments. Students who are not making adequate progress will receive remedial assistance in accordance with state law requirements. A schedule(s) for accelerated instruction will be developed by Staff and communicated to the parent/guardian of the students needing additional assistance. Operational guidelines consistent with the above policy directives will be detailed and published as necessary by Academy Staff in the Parent/Student Handbook on an annual basis. 11/03/09 Resolution 14-18 Page 6 of 6