IK: Academic Achievement**

Code: IK

Adopted: 3/09/07

Revised/Readopted: 12/08/10; 8/14/13; 10/11/17 Orig. Code(s): IK

The board believes it is important that teachers have as much accurate knowledge of student achievement as possible to assess students’ needs and growth; thus, a sharing of information among parent, teacher and student is essential.

The district shall ensure that all students have the opportunity to demonstrate progress toward mastery of the knowledge and skills of the student’s current grade level or course content level.  Students who have not yet met or who exceed all of the standards at any grade level, will be offered additional services or alternative education or public school options.

The board directs staff to follow these guidelines in measuring and determining student progress:

1. Parents and students will be informed at least annually, of their student’s progress toward achieving the academic content standards, including but not limited to:
   • Information on progress in each subject area to meet or exceed the academic content standards at the student’s current grade level or course content level, including major goals used to determine the information;
   • Specific evidence of student progress toward mastery of a continuum of academic knowledge and skills (academic content standards) of a subject area, upon request from a parent;
   • Evidence of the student’s progress in a continuum of knowledge and skills that are not academic and that may include student behaviors that are defined by the district;
   • Student scores on all state and local assessments indicating any of the requirements that have been waived for the district or the individual and time periods for the waiver; and
   • Student progress toward completion of diploma requirements to parents of students in grades 9-12, including credits earned, demonstration of extended application and demonstration of the Essential Skills.
2. Parents will be alerted and conferred with as soon as possible when a student’s performance or attitude becomes unsatisfactory or shows marked or sudden deterioration;
3. Grades and/or portfolio content will be based upon academic performance and will not include student attitude or behavior.  Grades will not be used for disciplinary purposes.  Absenteeism or misconduct shall not be the sole criterion for the reduction of a student’s grade.  Behavior performance shall be reported separately;
4. At comparable levels, the school system will strive for consistency in grading and reporting except when this consistency is inappropriate for certain classes or certain students;
5. When no grades are given but the student is evaluated in terms of progress, the school staff also will provide a realistic appraisal of the student’s standing in relation to his/her peers.
6. The staff will take particular care to explain to parents the meaning of marks and symbols used to reflect student performance.

END OF POLICY

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