STUDENTS
Promotion/Acceleration/Retention:
The District will establish and maintain the highest standards required for each grade and monitor student performance in a continuous and systematic manner. The administration and faculty shall establish a system of grading and reporting academic achievement to students and their parents and guardians. The system shall also determine when promotion and graduation requirements are met. The decision to promote a student to the next grade level shall be based on demonstrated and assessed successful completion of the curriculum, attendance, performance on statewide assessments and other testing instruments. Any necessary retention should take place as early in a student's educational career as possible. The certificated staff is expected to place students at the grade level best suited to them academically, socially and emotionally.
The Board desires to minimize/eliminate the practice of promoting students to the next grade level for social reasons even though they are failing academically. The Board expects students to progress through each grade usually within one school year. Students shall progress through the grade levels by demonstrating growth in learning and meeting grade-level standards of expected student achievement. Students who have mastered the appropriate skills will be promoted; those who have not will be retained.
Exceptions may be made when, in the judgment of the certificated staff, such exceptions are in the best educational interest of the students involved. Exceptions will only be made after prior notification and explanation to each student's parents or guardian by the building Principal. If the parent or guardian does not agree with the administrative decision for acceleration or retention, the student will be promoted only after the parent or guardian has signed a waiver taking full responsibility for their decision against the recommendation of the school administration.
Legal Reference: Connecticut General Statutes
P.A. 99-288 An Act Concerning Education Accountability
10-221(b) Boards of education to prescribe rules.
10-265g Summer reading programs required for priority school districts. Evaluation of student reading level. Personal reading plans. (as amended by PA 01-173 and PA 06-135)
10-265l Requirements for additional instruction for poor performing students in priority school districts; exemption. Summer school required; exemption (as amended by PA 99-288, PA 01-173, PA 03-174 and PA 06-135)
Adopted: December 27, 1979
Reviewed: May 4, 1998
March 6, 2000
Revised: June 8, 2009
Revised: August 28, 2017
Early Graduation
A student who intends to complete all requirements for graduation in less than eight (8) semesters may apply for early graduation approval. All of the following requirements and criteria must be met in order for a student to be considered for early graduation.
1. The below application form for early graduation must be completed by the end of the student's junior year (6 semesters).
2. A written/word-processed statement must be submitted to the principal, explaining in detail, why the student wishes to graduate early.
3. A written/word-processed statement must be submitted to the principal, explaining in detail, future career and/or academic plans and discuss such plans with his or her school counselor.
4. The student must secure written permission for early graduation.
5. Any student choosing to graduate early may NOT participate in senior activities. However, they may choose to walk in the graduation ceremony in June.
June 26, 2019
Somers High School
EARLY GRADUATION REQUEST FORM
Date______________
Name_____________________________________________________________________
Last First Middle Initial
Date of Birth_______ Year of Graduation________ Grade_________
Class Rank________ Numbers of Semesters Completed to Date_______
Number of Semesters to be completed Upon Graduation _____ 7 semesters
_______________________________________
Parent Signature
1. State the reason(s) for requesting early graduation.
2. Give a description of your future academic and/or vocational goals.
3. Have your plans been discussed with your counselor?
4. Have your plans been discussed with your parent(s) or guardian?
Required signatures of approval:
Approve Disapprove
A. School Counselor: ________________________________
B. Parent/Guardian:__________________________________
C. Student: _______________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Office Use Only Date of Principal's Conference: ___________
Comments:
__________________________________
Principal's Signature