505.01 STUDENT PROGRESS REPORTS AND CONFERENCES

 

Students shall receive a progress report at the end of each grading period. Students who are doing poorly, and their parents, shall be notified prior to the end of the semester 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.

 

In order to keep the parents informed of the progress of their children, parent-teacher conferences will be held at the elementary and at the Junior/Senior high school.

 

Parents, teachers, or principals may request a conference for students in grades pre-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, .11A; 280 (1993).

                                    281 I.A.C. 12.3(6); 12.3(7); 12.5(16).

 

 

Cross Reference:       502  Student Rights and Responsibilities

                                    505  Student Scholastic Achievement

                                    506  Student Records

 

 

 

Approved: 8/17/1995

Reviewed: 1/11/2001; 02/14/2008; 1/12/12; 12/14/22

Revised: 11/11/1999; 2/14/18

 

 

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 district shall adhere to the following:

• Retention/Promotion in kindergarten-eighth grade:  The retention of a student will be determined based upon the judgment of the district's professional staff. When it becomes evident that a student in grades kindergarten through eight may be retained in a grade level for an additional year, the parents will be informed prior to making the retention decision. 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
• Retention/Promotion in ninth-twelfth grade:  Students in grades nine through twelve will be informed of the required coursework necessary to be promoted each year. When it becomes evident the 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.
• Acceleration in kindergarten-twelfth grade:  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.
• Retention or acceleration in kindergarten-twelfth grade may also occur in additional instances as provided by law.

 

Any student or parent who is not satisfied with the decision of the district's professional staff may seek recourse through policy 502.4 - Student Complaints and Grievances.

 

 

 

Legal Reference:       Iowa Code 256.11, 41, 279.8

                                   281 I.A.C 12.5 (16).

 

 

Cross Reference:       501  Student Attendance

                                   505  Student Scholastic Achievement

                                   603.2  Summer School Instruction

 

 

Approved: 8/17/1995

Reviewed: 1/11/2001; 02/14/2008; 1/12/12; 2/16/18; 12/14/22

Revised: 8/8/1996

The Wapello Community School District will 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 will 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 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 (1993).

 

 

 

Cross Reference:        504  Student Activities

                                    505  Student Scholastic Achievement

 

 

 

 

Approved: 8/17/1995

Reviewed: 1/11/2001; 02/14/2008; 1/12/12; 12/15/22

Revised:2/14/18

A comprehensive testing program is established and maintained to evaluate the education program of the Wapello 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, to submit 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 potentially embarrassing to the student or the student's family;
• sex behavior and attitudes;
• illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating and demeaning behavior;
• critical appraisals of other individuals with whom students 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 the 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 (1988).

                                    Iowa Code §§ 280.3

 

 

Cross Reference:        505  Student Scholastic Achievement

                                    506  Student Records

                                    507  Student Health and Well-Being

 

 

Approved:      8/17/95

Reviewed:      1/9/03; 02/14/08; 1/12/12; 2/14/18; 12/14/22

Revised:         1/9/03; 7/12/23

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

 

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure that students complete grades one through twelve and that high school students complete 52 credits prior to graduation. The following credits will be required:

 

English/Language Arts         8 credits

Science                                   6 credits

Mathematics                           6 credits

Social Studies                         7 credits

Physical Education                4 credits

Electives                                 17 credits

Health/Fine Arts                    1 credit

Vocational                              2 credits

Computer                               1 credit

Financial Literacy                   1 credit

 

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 capital will be credited ½ credit of social studies.

 

Students enrolled in a junior officers’ training corp will receive ⅛ physical education credit for each semester the student is enrolled in the program.

 

 

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

                                   281 I.A.C. 12.3, .5; 12(5).

 

 

Cross Reference:        505--Student Scholastic Achievement

                                   603.3--Special Education

 

 

Approved: 8/17/1995

Reviewed: 1/11/2001; 2/14/2008; 1/12/12; 12/14/22

Revised: 1/11/2001; 2/12/2009; 2/14/18; 7/14/21; 7/19/22

Early graduation is defined as graduation prior to the completion of the 16th quarter of high school attendance.

 

Wapello High School students may graduate at the conclusion of any quarter in which they have:

1. Met or surpassed minimum graduation requirements as set forth in the Board of Education policy.
2. Secured written approval of the guidance counselor, a parent, and the building administrator.
3. The building administrator shall submit the names of early graduates at intervals for Board of Education approval.

 

Academic honors and class rank shall be determined in the traditional manner from
among all students who meet or surpass graduation requirements in any given year.

 

 

Legal Reference:       Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 280.3

281 I.A.C. 12.3(5); 12(5)

 

 

Cross Reference:       505 Student Scholastic Achievement

 

 

Approved: 8/14/1997

Reviewed: 1/11/2001; 02/14/2008; 1/12/12; 2/14/18; 12/14/22

Revised:

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 Wapello Community 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.

 

 

 

Approved: 8/17/1995

Reviewed: 1/11/2001; 02/14/2008; 1/12/12; 2/14/18; 12/14/22

Revised:

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:

1. Involve parents and families int eh development of the Title I plan, the process for school review of the plan, and the process for improvement by:
   1. Distributing the policy at the annual meeting, parent/teacher conferences, and informational meetings.
   2. Copies will be mailed to parents who did not attend any of the above.
   3. New families to the district will receive the policy in the mail.
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.
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.
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.
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.
6. Involve parents and families in Title I activities.

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.  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 Reference:       20 Reference. C. 631

Cross Reference:       903.2--Community Resource Persons and Volunteers

 

 

 

Approved: 7/9/1998

Reviewed: 1/9/2003; 02/14/2008; 1/12/12; 6/13/18; 12/14/22; 3/13/24

Revised: 1/9/2003

Purpose:  To establish standards for grading high school credit to home schooled students.
 

I. Families Residing within the Wapello Community School District

 

This section is for families who have resided in the Wapello Community School District when their children entered ninth grade.

 

A. Credits Toward Graduation

1. Wapello High School will consider granting credit for classes taken at home when such classes are offered through a pre-approved accredited institution. Approval rights shall rest with the high school principal or superintendent of schools. Grades earned will count toward graduation but will not qualify the student for scholarships, valedictorian, salutatorian, or other honors. Class rank will not be reported to other institutions.
2.  Home schooled students, enrolled in correspondence courses, who wish to have the credit accepted at Wapello High School, will take the test required by the institution granting credit under adequate supervision, if said supervision is required to meet the terms of the institution granting credit. Wapello High School will not provide such supervision.
3. The school will loan texts and supplementary curriculum materials to parents for any class offered at Wapello High School as long as such books are available. No purchases will be made by the school in order to supply home schooled students. Copies of district curriculum and plans of study will be placed in the Keck Memorial Library for use by parents.

B. Grade Point Averages and Rank in Class

1. Students taking pre-approved correspondence classes will receive a pass or fail and not a grade for the courses taken at home.
2. All classes taken at the same time as other fully enrolled students within the school will be counted for grades and credits the same as all other students (Dual Enrollment).

 

II. Families Originating Outside the District

 

This section is for families who move into the Wapello Community School District after their children have entered the ninth grade and who wish to home school their children.

 

A. Special Rules When Moving into the Wapello Community School District

1. Wapello Community School District will accept all credits shown in the transcript from the last accredited school district in which the student resided.
2. All classes taken at the same time as other fully enrolled students within the school will be counted for grades and credits the same as all other students. Students taking pre-approved correspondence courses will receive pass/fail credit for successful completion of the courses.
3. All other rules concerning credits, grades, graduation, honors as mentioned previously, as well as the entire body of board policy are in effect except where specifically changed in this section.

 

III. Parents of home-schooled and dual-enrolled students will be assessed book and other applicable district fees, charged to regularly enrolled students, when using district materials or services. Said fees may be pro-rated when appropriate.

 

 

Approved: 4/6/1998

Reviewed: 1/11/2001; 02/14/2008; 1/12/12; 2/14/18; 12/14/22

Revised:

Purpose:  The Wapello Community School District is committed to ensuring the integrity of the information obtained from the use of educational assessments, ensuring security of test content and upholding professional ethics.  This policy is intended to apply to all Federal, State, and District mandated assessments, including but not limited to:  Dynamic Learning Maps Alternate Assessment (DLM), English Language Proficiencies for the 21st Century (ELPA21), Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP), National assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), NWEA Measure of Academic Progress (MAP), all District designated Early Literacy Assessments (e.g. FAST), and GOLD.

 

This policy is to identify test security practices and administration procedures that align to ESSA and Iowa Code that can ensure  assessment results are truly representative of the achievement of students in our district.  Everyone who is involved in student testing is responsible for test security.  This includes but is not limited to district administrators, school administrators, school assessment coordinators, teachers, test administrators, proctors, students, and parents.  It is also our intent to create awareness of potential negative impact that inappropriate assessment practices might produce, to outline processes to be followed, and to identify the potential consequences of violating the policy.  If test scores become questionable because of inappropriate practice in either preparing students or in administering tests, the meaning of the scores will be distorted and their value for their original purpose will be diminished or lost.

 

This policy is to be communicated annually to all staff involved in testing administration as well as a student honor code shared with students engaging in testing.

 

District Test Coordinators

Each Federal and State assessment will have a district-appointed District Test Coordinator.  Responsibility for testing-related functions can be delegated by the District Test Coordinator to one or more Building Test Coordinators.  The District Test Coordinator is responsible for developing: rules for storage and test security measures, rules for administration, rules for monitoring, rules for reporting, and the requirements for protecting student personal information (FERPA).

 

Handling Testing Materials

Each Federal and State assessment has materials handling procedures specific to the assessment.  It is the responsibility of the District Test Coordinator to develop procedures congruent to test type based on the test developer's or vendor's test administration manual.  Only personnel identified and unauthorized in District procedures will have access to the tests or testing system before, during, and after the identified testing window.  All district personnel will be expected to follow the same test handling procedures.

 

Test Preparation

As a function of educating students, staff may prepare students for assessments by providing instruction in the content areas to be assessed.  Staff may also prepare students for assessments by teaching general test-taking skills that are applicable to any test or test format.

Staff shall only conduct reviews or drills that use the supplied online practice test supplied by testing companies or vendors.  Staff shall not develop their own "practice" test items to mimic those  supplied by the testing company or vendor.

 

Security Violations

In the administration of Federal or State standardized tests, it is a violation of test security to do any of the following:

1. Provide inappropriate test preparation such as the following:
   1. Copy, screenshot, reproduce, or use in any manner any portion of any secure test, for any reason.
   2. Share an actual test instrument in any form.
   3. Use test preparation materials or strategies that do not comply with Federal, State, and/or District guidelines
2. Deviate from the test administration procedures specified in the test examiner's manual
3. Provide inappropriate assistant to students during the test administration
4. Make test answers available to students.
5. Change or fill in answers on student answer documents.
6. Provide inaccurate data on student answer documents.
7. Engage in any practice to artificially raise student scores without actually improving underlying student achievement.
8. Participate in, direct, aid, counsel, assist, encourage, or fail to report any of the acts prohibited in this policy.

 

Policy Violation Consequences

If a violation of this policy occurs, as determined by the superintendent following an investigation of allegations of irregularities, the superintendent shall determine whether the integrity of the testing program has been jeopardized, whether some or all of the test results are invalidated, and whether a teacher or administrator has violated the Code of Ethics of the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners as found at 282-Iowa Administrative Code Chapter 25.

 

Reports of students cheating on assessments shall be submitted to the building principal for investigation and disciplinary procedures.

 

A staff member found to have committed testing irregularities shall be subject to discipline in accordance with law and board policy.  If the staff member is a licensee of the Board of Educational Examiners, the superintendent shall make a timely report to that Board.

 

If the superintendent believes that assessment results are invalid, the superintendent shall make a timely report to the Iowa Department of Education.

 

Approved:  5/8/19

Reviewed:  12/14/22

Revised: