Code No.  505.1

STUDENT PROGRESS REPORTS AND CONFERENCES

Students shall receive a progress report at the end of each nine-week grading period.  Students who are doing poorly, and their parents, shall be notified prior to the end of the grading period in order to have an opportunity to improve their grade.  The board encourages the notification of students who have made marked improvement prior to the end of the semester.

Parent-teacher conferences will be held two times per year to keep the parents informed. 

Parents, teachers, or principals may request a conference for students in grades kindergarten through twelve in addition to the scheduled conference time.  Parents and students are encouraged to discuss the student's progress or other matters with the student's teacher.

Legal Reference:           Iowa Code §§ 256.11, 41; 280, 284.12.

281 I.A.C. 12.3(4), 12.3(6), .5(16).

Adopted:           08/18/2003

Revised:           04/22/2024

Reviewed:

Code No.  505.2

STUDENT PROMOTION - RETENTION - ACCELERATION

Students will be promoted to the next grade level at the end of each school year based on the student's achievement, age, maturity, emotional stability, and social adjustment.

The retention of a student will be determined based upon the judgment of the licensed employee and the principal.  When it becomes evident a student in grades kindergarten through eight may be retained in a grade level for an additional year, the parents will be informed.  It shall be within the sole discretion of the board to retain students in their current grade level and to deny promotion to a student.

Students in grades nine through twelve will be informed of the required coursework necessary to be promoted each year.  When it becomes evident a student in these grades will be unable to meet the minimum credit requirements for the year, the student and parents will be informed.  It shall be within the sole discretion of the board to retain students in their current grade level and to deny promotion to a student.

Students in grades kindergarten through twelve with exceptional talents may, with the permission of the principal and parents, take classes beyond their current grade level.  Enrichment opportunities outside the school district may be allowed when they do not conflict with the school district's graduation requirements.

Legal Reference:           Iowa Code §§ 256.11, .41; 279.8.

                        281 I.A.C. 12.5(16).

Cross Reference:           410.02  Summer School Licensed Employees

603.02  Summer School Instruction

Adopted:          04/20/1998

Reviewed:        04/22/2024

Revised:

Code No.  505.3

STUDENT HONORS AND AWARDS

The school district shall provide a program that establishes honors and awards including, but not limited to, academic letters, scholarships and good citizenship awards for students to assist students in setting goals.  Students shall be made aware of honors and awards and the action necessary on the part of the student to achieve them.  Students who have not attended the school district for their entire high school education or have not attended an accredited public or private school will not be eligible for honors and awards. 

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to develop the administrative regulations regarding this policy.

Legal Reference:           Iowa Code § 279.8

Cross Reference:           501.6    Student Transfers In

Adopted:          04/20/1998

Reviewed:        04/22/2024

Revised:

Code No.  505.4

TESTING PROGRAM

A comprehensive testing program is established and maintained to evaluate the education program of the school district and to assist in providing guidance or counseling services to students and their families.

No student is required, as part of any applicable program, funded by the United State Department of Education, to submit to a survey, analysis or evaluation that reveals information concerning:

• political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent or guardian;
• mental or psychological problems of the student or the student's family;
• sex behavior or attitudes;
• illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
• critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
• legally recognized, privileged and analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians and ministers;
• religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent or guardian; or
• income,(other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program);

without the prior consent of the student (if the student is an adult or emancipated minor), or in the case of an unemancipated minor, without the prior written consent of the parent.

Prior to an employee or contractor of the district providing information on a student enrolled in the district on any survey related to the social or emotional abilities, competencies or characteristics of the student; the district will provide the parent/guardian of the student detailed information related to the survey and obtain written consent of the parent/guardian of the student.  This includes the person who created the survey, the person who sponsors the survey, how the information generated by the survey is used and how information generated by the survey is stored. This requirement will not prohibit a district employee from answering questions related to a student enrolled in the district as part of developing or implementing an individualized education program for the student.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.

It is the responsibility of the board to review and approve the evaluation and testing program.

Legal Reference:           20 U.S.C. § 1232h

                  Iowa Code §§ 280.3

Cross Reference:           607.2               Student Health Services

                  607.2R1    Student Health Services-Regulation

Adopted:          08/18/2003

Reviewed:        04/22/2024

Revised:           08/15/2023

Code No.  505.5

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Students must successfully complete the courses required by the board and Iowa Department of Education in order to graduate.  

It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure that students complete grades one through twelve and that high school students complete 54 credits prior to graduation.   The following credits will be required:

- Language Arts   8 credits

- Science   6 credits

- Mathematics   6 credits

- Social Studies   6 credits

- Citizenship   (included in Social Studies) 1 credit

- Physical Education 4 credits

- Health 1 credit

- Speech 1 credit

- Parenting 1 credit

- Electives           21 credits

The required courses of study will be reviewed by the board annually.

Prior to graduation, the district will advise students on how to successfully complete the free application for federal student aid.

Graduation requirements for special education students will include successful completion of four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies and three years of science.

Students who complete a regular session in the Legislative Page Program of the general assembly at the state capitol will be credited ½ credit of social studies.

Students enrolled in a junior officers’ training corp will receive 1/8th physical education credit for each semester the student is enrolled in the program.
 

Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 256.7, 11, .41; 279.8; 279.61; 280.3, .14.

281 I.A.C. 12.3(5); 12.5

Cross Reference: 505 Student Scholastic Achievement

  603.3 Special Education

Adopted: 04/20/1998

Revised: 04/22/2024

Reviewed: 08/15/2023

Generally, students will be required to complete the necessary course work and graduate from high school at the end of grade twelve.  Students may graduate prior to this time if they meet the minimum graduation requirements stated in board policy.

A student who graduates early will no longer be considered a student and will become an alumnus of the school district.  However, the student who graduates early may participate in commencement exercises.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 280.3.
                                      281 I.A.C. 12.3(5); 12.5

Cross Reference:  505  Student Scholastic Achievement

Adopted:          04/20/1998
Reviewed:        04/22/2024

Students who have met the requirements for graduation will be allowed to participate in the commencement proceedings provided they abide by the proceedings organized by the school district.  It shall be the responsibility of the principal to solicit input from each graduating class regarding the proceedings for their commencement.

Failure of a student to participate in commencement will not be a reason for withholding the student's final progress report or diploma certifying the student's completion of high school.

Legal Reference:  Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 280.3, .14 (1997).
                                      281 I.A.C. 12.2; .3(7); .5.

Cross Reference:  505  Student Scholastic Achievement

Adopted:          08/18/2003
Reviewed:        04/22/2024

PARENTAL AND FAMILY ENGAGEMENT DISTRICT-WIDE POLICY

Code No. 505.8

Parent and family engagement is an important component in a student’s success in school.  The board encourages parents and families to become involved in their child’s education to ensure the child’s academic success.  In order to facilitate parent and family involvement, it is the goal of the district to conduct outreach and implement programs, activities and procedures to further involve parents and families with the academic success of their students.  The board will:

(In each of the following six items, the board must describe within this policy how it will accomplish each of the items.  This mandatory policy is not complete without providing specific information for each of these six categories.)

(1)    Involve parents and families in the development of the Title I plan, the process for school review of the plan and the process for improvement by:

(2)    Provide the coordination, technical assistance and other support necessary to assist and build the capacity of all participating schools in planning and implementing effective parent and family involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance by:

(3)    To the extent feasible, coordinate and integrate parent and family engagement strategies under Title I with parent and family engagement strategies outlined in other relevant Federal, State, and local laws and programs by:

(4)    Conduct with the involvement of parents and family members, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the parent and family engagement policy in improving the academic quality of the school served including identifying: barriers to greater participation by parents in Title I activities (with particular attention to low-income parents, Limited English Proficient (LEP) parents, parents of any racial or ethnic minority, parents with disabilities and parents with limited literacy); needs of parents and family to assist their children’s learning; and strategies to support successful school and family interactions by:

(5)    Use the findings of the annual evaluation to design strategies for more effective parent and family involvement and to revise, as necessary, the parent and family involvement policies by:

(6)    Involve parents and families in Title I activities by:

The district shall involve parents in determining how to allocate reserved Title I funds in accordance with applicable laws. 

The board will review this policy annually.  The superintendent is responsible for notifying parents and families of this policy annually or within a reasonable time after it has been amended during the school year.  The superintendent may develop an administrative process or procedures to implement this policy. 

Legal References:         20 U.S.C. §6318

Cross References:         903.2 Community Resource Persons and Volunteers

Adopted:          08/18/2003                  
Reviewed:        03/18/2019

Revised:           06/26/2023