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May 2007
News You Can Use
8th Grade Retention/Promotion Policy
On January 23, the Board of Education acted to: "retain eighth grade students with two or more Fs in core subjects (i.e., English, Mathematics, History, Science) beginning this school year, 2006-07”. Students failing two or more core subjects at the end of eighth grade will be retained in middle school and will not go on to high school in the fall. The goal of the policy is to increase students’ preparation for and success in challenging high school courses.

Students and parents were informed of this policy by their teachers, counselors, and school administration. Affected students will soon be meeting with school staff to go over the retention policy, the appeal process and to discuss options for summer school.

Guidelines and a flowchart of the policy are available at http://www.sandi.net/staff/forms/8th_retention/english.pdf.

Grade 8 Student Parent Summer School Outcome Student Placement in the Fall
Has 2 (or more) Fs in core subjects Agrees to retention decision Has no effect on placement Retain in grade 8
Has 2 (or more) Fs in core subjects Appeals retention decision Student makes up both Fs Promote to grade 9
Has 2 Fs in core subjects Appeals retention decision Student makes up 0-1 Fs or does not attend summer school Place in high school intervention program
Has 3 or more Fs in core subjects Appeals retention decision Has no effect on placement Place in high school intervention program