Promotion, Retention, and Demotion of Students

 

It is the policy of Innovations International Charter School that students work toward achievement of educational goals in a continual program of learning through grade-sequential curriculum. Promotion or retention in accordance with NRS 392.033 shall be based upon a student’s demonstrated achievement rather than age or years in school. Before any student is retained in the same grade rather than promoted, a reasonable effort to arrange meetings with the parents or guardians to discuss the reasons and circumstances will be made. The principal in joint agreement with the teacher (s) have the final authority to retain a student.

Kindergarten

Students normally spend one year in kindergarten and are promoted to grade one at the end of the year. In some instances, individual students may benefit by special education placement or by a second year in kindergarten. In these instances, principals and teachers may make this recommendation to parents or guardians. Because of Nevada School Law concerning first grade entrance age, parents’ or guardians’ consent is needed before this recommendation may be used.

Grades 1-5

Students are normally promoted to the next grade level at the end of the school year. However, progress should be continuous and student advancement through the curriculum should be according to the student’s demonstrated ability rather than the student’s age or years in school. Principals are responsible for the standard promotion of students.

Double promotions may be made in exceptional circumstances considering such factors as the child’s age, achievement scores, measured ability, effort and attitude, physical and emotional maturity, and parents’ or guardians’ attitude and support. Principals are responsible for the final decision regarding double promotions within the school, but parental or guardian consent must be obtained, and teachers must be consulted prior to the decision. 

A student may be demoted to the next lower grade in exceptional circumstances considering such factors as the child’s age, achievement scores, measured ability, effort and attitude, and physical and emotional maturity. Demotion must be approved by the principal, the sending teacher, and the parents or guardians, and when such movement affects two school sites, by the receiving school’s principal. 

Before any student may be retained in the same grade rather than promoted, the student’s teacher and principal must make a reasonable effort to arrange a meeting with the parents or guardians to discuss the reasons and circumstances. Unapproved absences of twenty (20) days or more will be one of the considerations for retention. The teacher and principal, in joint agreement, have the final authority to retain a student. In the absence of final agreement between teacher and principal, the student will not be retained. No student may be retained more than one time in the same grade.

Each student’s learning needs will be assessed, and provisions made for these needs. Adjustment of the curriculum to meet individual student needs will be a continuous process and not a midyear or year-end consideration. Students are to be motivated to progress as rapidly as their ability permits. Teachers are to be alert to every student’s social, emotional, and academic needs and provide appropriate learning situations to meet them. Parents or guardians are to be informed regularly regarding the level of work being done by their children. Teachers and principals are to make this clear by use of the report card, progress reports, and parent conferences. 

Grades 6-8

Each sixth-grade student must have an approved three-year academic plan. The academic plan must set forth the specific educational goals the student intends to achieve before promotion to high school.

The following is the minimum requirements for a student to be eligible for promotion to the next grade level and/or to the high school. Innovations’ expectation of all students is to complete and pass every semester of all courses to be better prepared for the following academic year. 

Grade 6

A student must complete and pass:

•    1 semester of mathematics
•    1 semester of English Language Arts
•    1 semester of science

Grade 7

A student must complete and pass:

•    1 semester of mathematics
•    1 semester of English Language Arts
•    1 semester of science
•    1 semester of U.S. History

Grade 8

A student must complete and pass in grade 7th and 8th:

•    3 semesters of mathematics
•    3 semesters of English Language Arts
•    2 semesters of science
•    2 semesters of social studies 

For promotion to high school 

An eighth-grade student who does not meet promotion requirements may be promoted to high school on an academic probation provided the student meets the criteria for academic probation outlined below. A parent or guardian may elect not to place his/her child on academic probation but to remain in grade 8.

An eighth-grade student not meeting the criteria for promotion to ninth grade and not meeting the criteria for academic probation may be retained in the eighth grade for the following school year. A retained eighth-grade students may not be promoted midyear. An eighth-grade student may be retained for more than one year.
Academic Probation for Grade Eight

•    An eight-grade student who has not met the promotion requirements may be promoted to the ninth grade on academic probation provided at least one of the following criteria has been met:
o    CRT scores meet or exceed standards in the area(s) of credit deficiency or
o    Credits have been earned in the core area(s) (English or reading, mathematics, science, and social studies); however, the student is deficient in one semester of the five total credits required for promotion; or
o    A student reaches the age of sixteen before, on, or after the first day of school
•    Academic probation will consist of the appropriate remediation in the subject area(s) that the student failed to pass in middle school. Such remediation will include, but is not limited to, a minimum of one semester of remedial instruction in the deficient subject area(s) during the ninth- grade year. The student must earn a passing grade in the remediation course (s) to be removed from academic probation. A student may be placed on academic probation for more than one semester. 

A student may apply course work toward promotion to high school if mathematics, English or reading, science, and social studies are completed with a passing grade at a public or private junior high or middle school located in Nevada, at a public or private junior high or middle school located outside of Nevada if the local school district approved a transfer of units, at a youth correctional facility, or during a summer school offered by a public or private junior high or middle school. All courses to be applied toward course approval for promotion must have a passing grade of a D or better.

A student with a disability who is enrolled in a program of special education may be promoted to high school if he/she meets the requirements for promotion to high school that are prescribed in the (Individualized Education Plan) IEP.

Students who exceed ten unapproved absences in any course during the semester will receive a failing grade, shall not earn semester credit for that course, and may be retained in the current grade. For the purposes of this subsection, all prearranged absences more than ten during a school year will be considered unapproved. 

A student may be demoted to the next lower grade level in exceptional circumstances considering such factors as the child’s age, achievement scores, measured ability, effort and attitude, and physical and emotional maturity. Demotion must be approved by the principal, the teacher(s), and the parents/guardians and when such movements.

Student’s learning needs are to be assessed and provision made for these needs. Adjustment of the curriculum to meet individual student needs will be a continuous process and not a midyear or year-end consideration. Students are to be motivated to progress as rapidly as their ability permits. Teachers are to be alert to every student’s social, emotional, and academic needs and provide appropriate learning situations to meet them. Parents or guardians are to be informed regularly regarding the level of work being done by their children. Teachers and principals are to make this clear by use of the report card, progress reports, and parent conferences. 

Students identified as being at risk for retention will be provided opportunities to participate in remediation programs at the school site as well as summer programs, tutorial programs, before and after school programs, and distance education. 

Grades 9 – 12

The approval of Assembly Bill 288 made significant changes to high school graduation requirements for students living in Nevada. These changes are to be phased in with four End of Course Exams, two in math and two in English Language Arts. These changes are to be phased in as the State Board of Education makes decisions related to the specific requirements of the bill. Below are the changes that are currently in effect. 
1.    Students entering 9th grade and 10th grade no longer take the Nevada High School Proficiency Exams; rather they take the four End of Course Exams. 
2.    All students are required to take a college and career readiness assessment in grade 11. 
3.    Students having disabilities may opt out of the college and career readiness assessment based on the decision of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. The student’s IEP team will determine appropriate assessments and accommodations for students having disabilities. 
4.    AB 288 also changed the statutory reference to the General Development test (GED) and required the State Board of Education to select a high school equivalency assessment. The State Board of Education stating with the 2014 – 2015 school year has approved the following three high school equivalency exams. GED, HSET, and TASC. 
The state has transitioned to these new requirements over the past few years. The noted changes are aligned with the Nevada Academic Content Standards and are designed to ensure all students are college and career ready. 
To graduate from Innovations International Charter School, students must still complete the 21st Century Course outline. All course work must be completed with a passing grade to receive full credit. Beginning with the Classes of 2017 and 2018, students must take and pass the new End of Course Exams as an element of graduation requirements. The End of Course Exams are now part of finals as given in the following classes. 
5.    Algebra I or a state approved equivalent course 
6.    Geometry or a state approved equivalent course 
7.    Integrated Math 1I or a state approved equivalent course 
8.    Integrated Math II or a state approved equivalent course 
9.    ELA – English 10 or a state approved equivalent course 
Science is a federally required exam in grades 5,8, and high school. The Nevada Science assessment will not be an End of Course final exam. The high school Science assessment is based on life science content and will be made available to accommodate district testing needs. The high school Science assessment will be a point earning measure used within the Nevada School Performance Framework. During the 2018 – 2019 school year, the End of Course Exams counted at 10% of the student’s final grade and has increased 5 points yearly until it has reached 20% at the 2020-2021 school year. 
Grade 11 students will be required to take the ACT College and Career Readiness Examination. This is an actual college entrance exam, so scores may be sent to a potential university or college. The ACT scores will not be used to determine graduation eligibility, there is a mandatory participation on the part of the students. Students in grade 11 and those in grade 12 who have not taken the exam will receive no charge for the first exam given. 
High school students are classified by the grade level they are entering or have just completed course work for advancement. However, parents often want to note whether their son/daughter are on target for graduation. The following helps parents to see what their children should be accomplishing each year. This is meant to be a guideline for the student and parent to stay on track for high school graduation. 
Credits Earned Grade Level Status 
0 – 5.5 credits            Freshmen
6 – 11.5 credits             Sophomore                                                                                                                       12 – 17.5 credits         Junior                                                                                                                                         18 + credits             Senior

Student’s learning needs are to be assessed and provision made for these needs. Adjustment of the curriculum to meet individual student needs will be a continuous process and not a midyear or year-end consideration. Students are to be motivated to progress as rapidly as their ability permits. Teachers are to be alert to every student’s social, emotional, and academic needs and provide appropriate learning situations to meet them. Parents or guardians are to be informed regularly regarding the level of work being done by their children. Teachers and principals are to make this clear by use of the report card, progress reports, and parent conferences. 

Students identified as being at risk for retention will be provided opportunities to participate in remediation programs at the school site as well as summer programs, tutorial programs, before and after school programs, and distance education. 

Progress Reports

Innovations’ Progress Reports are sent four times a year just prior to Report Cards. Parents will be notified that these are ready to view. Additionally these are sent home with the elementary students. Access to student reports can be made through the Parent. Portal of Infinite Campus. This gives families up-to-date grade and attendance information. Parents with deactivated accounts, or who need to set up an account should contact the office of each campus for assistance. Proper identification will be requested to ensure that student and family confidentiality is protected. 

Report cards come once per quarter and at the end of each semester. These show the student’s progress and academic achievement as measurement for content mastery in preparation for promotion and credit accumulation at the middle and high school levels. Questions concerning student progress can be addressed to the teacher(s) of each student and to the counselors on each campus.