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Tag: Advancements

Published on
  • Effective: 8/27/1969
  • Revision: 4/27/2021
  1. Board Directive
    The Board recognizes that special consideration may need to be given to some students for grade placement.   The Board authorizes the Administration to implement policy regarding student retention and acceleration.
  2. Administrative Policy
    The Administration recognizes that schools should offer students opportunities for acquiring skills, and for cognitive, academic, social and emotional development.  Ideally, the needs of an individual student can be met by differentiated instruction while he/she remains with his/her own age peer group.  In extreme cases, student retention or acceleration may be considered.
    Decisions regarding student retention or acceleration should be made only after all the needs and abilities of the student have been assessed, reviewed by an evaluation team and have been determined to meet the retention or acceleration guidelines found in the Planning and Enrollment Procedures Manual.

    1. The membership of the evaluation team will include the parent or legal guardian and any teachers or staff members with relevant and appropriate information about the student’s performance. The student may participate at the discretion of the parent/guardian and school administrator. The school administrator leads the team and makes the final decision based on its recommendation.
    2. The school administrator shall reasonably accommodate requests for retention of students in kindergarten through grade 8 as required by Utah Code 53G-6-803-2. Requests for retention of students in grades 9-12 may be approved by the school administrator in extreme cases when warranted by the situation and assessment data and recommended by the evaluation team.
    3. A reasonable acceleration or retention completed by another LEA and reflected on the student’s official transcript or record will be honored by the District upon the enrollment of the student. Students new to the District or to a District school must typically enroll in the age-appropriate grade long enough for the evaluation team to assemble relevant data regarding the acceleration or retention.
    4. The decision of retention or acceleration may be reviewed by the team at any time during the student’s educational experience, but a retention or acceleration may only occur once per academic year.
    5. The parent(s)/legal guardian(s) may request a review of their student’s acceleration or retention from Planning & Enrollment in the Student Services Department if they feel that relevant information was not considered or that established processes were not followed. In the event of irregularities, Planning & Enrollment will present any findings to the school administrator, who retains the responsibility for the final decision on an acceleration or retention.

Published on
  • Effective: 8/27/1969
  • Revision: 11/29/2022
  • Reviewed: 12/10/2013
  1. Board Directive
    Recognizing the need for an orderly transition of students between school levels, the Board authorizes the District Administration to conduct appropriate advancement, promotion, and graduation activities.
  2. Administrative Policy
    1. Authorization
      The advancement, promotion, and graduation of students is authorized by the Board upon the recommendation of the Superintendent and the principal of the school involved.
    2. Definitions
      1. Advancement:  Movement of students within the three divisions or levels (elementary, middle, and high school) of instruction.
      2. Promotion:  Movement of students from one grade level to another, from elementary to middle school, and from middle school to high school.
      3. Graduation:  Completion of the high school program of studies specified by the State and local Boards of Education.
        NOTE:  The following definitions relate directly to the mandate for optional configurations of the high school program as specified by Utah Code §53A-15-101.
      4. Advanced Placement (AP):  The most rigorous credit courses in the high school curriculum in any discipline area.  Sponsored by and controlled by the College Entrance Examination Board, AP courses each have associated tests that also grant college level credit upon successful completion of the examination designated for that course.
      5. Accelerated Vocational Programs:  Vocational/technical education courses designed to provide college credit to students evidencing a high level of content master/skills in a specialized field.
      6. Early Graduation:  Optional program governed by the creation of a specialized Student Educational Plan for College and Career Readiness and approved by the principal at the least one quarter prior to the date for early graduation; designed for the purpose of allowing a student to graduate after completion of the eleventh grade or at the end of any quarter of the twelfth grade year.
      7. Concurrent Enrollment:  Optional program governed by the creation of a specialized Student Educational Plan for College and Career Readiness that allows a student to enroll in post secondary training/education while attending classes in the regular high school day.  Courses completed in the Concurrent Enrollment program may be used as credit toward high school graduation and/or may be applied to fulfillment of post secondary educational requirements.
      8. Early Admissions:  Optional program governed by the creation of a specialized Student Educational Plan for College and Career Readiness that allows a student to enter post secondary training/education in place of or as part of the normal senior year.  Early Admissions does not preclude the student returning to graduate from high school with his/her class.
      9. International Baccalaureate:  A rigorous program of studies emphasizing critical thinking while encouraging an international perspective.  Students may earn a certificate in a specific course of study and a diploma recognizing completion of the entire program.
    3. Promotion and Graduation Requirements
      Promotion from elementary school to middle school or from middle school to high school shall be authorized upon satisfactory fulfillment of the requirements specified by the State Board of Education and additional studies required by the Jordan School District Board of Education. Graduation from high school shall be authorized upon satisfactory completion of high school graduation requirements in the Utah educational code and stated in the Jordan School District Credit Guidelines for graduation from secondary schools. (State Board Rule R277-705-3)
    4. Responsibility
      The Administration delegates responsibility for the general coordination of advancement, promotion, and graduation activities to the Administrators of Schools.  Working cooperatively with the school principals, the Administrators of Schools shall make certain that Board and Administrative policies are understood and complied with in conducting school programs.
    5. Advancement
      Teachers and principals shall consider the continuous progress and educational growth of students a major concern as students are advanced from one level to another in the elementary and middle school.  Retentions and accelerations shall be considered on the basis of the best interest and welfare of the student based upon the professional determination of the local school educational team comprised of a school administrator, parent(s)/legal guardian(s), teacher(s) and guidance personnel.  (See Policy AS64 Student Retention and Acceleration)
    6. Promotion
      As students are promoted from one division or level to another, teachers and administrators shall stress the non-terminal nature of promotion and shall encourage students to continue their studies.
    7. Graduation Programs
      Graduation programs shall be conducted according to the following guidelines:

      1. Commencement exercises shall be held to honor those students graduating from high school.
      2. They shall reflect the dignity of youth, the community, and the schools of Jordan School District.
      3. They shall emphasize conservatism in money expenditures required of students, parents, and schools in order not to embarrass the indigent.
      4. No formal programs or exercises shall be held for pupils being advanced from one grade to the next or for pupils being promoted from elementary to middle school or from middle school to high school.
      5. Middle school students shall not purchase class rings, yearbooks, or pins to signify the promotion occasion.
    8. Scheduling
      The scheduling of graduation programs shall be coordinated by the Administrators of Schools.  Selected program dates shall be cleared through the Superintendent's office and placed on the Activity Calendar.
    9. Graduation Attire
      In order to maintain dignity and decorum at high school commencements, students participating in commencement exercises are subject to the graduation dress attire articulated in Policy AA419 Student Conduct and Dress, item D.