San Francisco Unified School District and County Office of Education
Board Policy 5123
Promotion/Acceleration/Retention
This Board Policy applies to the San Francisco Unified School District and the County Office of Education.
The Governing Board expects students to progress through each grade level within one school year. Toward this end, instruction shall be designed to accommodate the variety of ways that students learn and provide strategies for addressing academic deficiencies as needed.
Students shall progress through the grade levels by demonstrating growth in learning and meeting grade-level standards of expected student achievement.
(cf. 6011 – Academic Standards)
(cf. 6146.1 – High School Graduation Requirements)
(cf. 6146.5 – Elementary/Middle School Graduation Requirements)
(cf. 6170.1 – Transitional Kindergarten)
When high academic achievement is evident, the teacher may recommend a student for acceleration to a higher grade level. The student’s maturity level shall be taken into consideration in making a determination to accelerate a student.
Teachers shall identify students who should be retained or who are at risk of being retained at their current grade level as early as possible in the school year and as early in their school careers as practicable. Such students shall be identified at the following grade levels: (Education Code 48070.5)
- Between grades 2 and 3
- Between grades 3 and 4
- Between grades 4 and 5
- Between the end of the intermediate grades and the beginning of the middle school grades
- Between the end of the middle school grades and the beginning of the high school grades
With regard to special education students, the determination as to the appropriate standards for promotion or retention should be made as part of the IEP process.
(cf. 6159 – Individualized Education Program)
Students shall be identified for retention on the basis of failure to meet minimum levels of proficiency, as indicated by grades and the following additional indicators of academic achievement (applicable tests depend on assessments given at each grade level):
Fountas & Pinnell
Smarter Balanced Assessment
California Assessment of Student Performance & Progress
Reading Inventory
Student Work/Portfolios
Attendance
(cf. 5121 – Grades/Evaluation of Student Achievement)
(cf. 6162.5 – Student Assessment)
(cf. 6162.51 – State Academic Achievement Tests)
Students between grades 2 and 3 and grades 3 and 4 shall be identified primarily on the basis of their level of proficiency in reading. Proficiency in reading, English language arts, and mathematics shall be the basis for identifying students between grades 4 and 5, between intermediate and middle school grades, and between middle school grades and high school grades. (Education Code 48070.5)
(cf. 6142.91 – Reading/Language Arts Instruction)
(cf. 6142.92 – Mathematics Instruction)
If a student does not have a single regular classroom teacher, the Superintendent or designee shall specify the teacher(s) responsible for the decision to promote or retain the student. (Education Code 48070.5)
The teacher’s decision to promote or retain a student may be appealed in accordance with AR 5123 – Promotion/Acceleration/Retention.
When a student in grades 2-9 is retained or recommended for retention, the Superintendent or designee shall offer an appropriate program of remedial instruction to assist the student in meeting grade-level expectations. The district also may offer supplemental instruction to a student in grades 2-6 who is identified as being at risk for retention. (Education Code 37252.2, 37252.8, 48070.5)
(cf. 6176 – Weekend/Saturday Classes)
(cf. 6177 – Summer Learning Programs)
(cf. 6179 – Supplemental Instruction)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
37252-37254.1 Supplemental instruction
41505-41508 Pupil Retention Block Grant
46300 Method of computing average daily attendance
48010 Admittance to first grade
48011 Promotion/retention following one year of kindergarten
48070-48070.5 Promotion and retention
56345 Elements of individualized education plan
60640-60649 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
200-202 Admission and exclusion of students
Management Resources:
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION PUBLICATIONS
FAQs Promotion, Retention, and Grading (students with disabilities)
FAQs Pupil Promotion and Retention
Kindergarten Continuance Form
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
Please note that compare references, or “cf”, refer to CSBA model policies and do not necessarily indicate that the San Francisco Unified School District has adopted the referenced policy.