Students will receive a progress report at the end of each nine-week grading period. Students, who are doing poorly, and their parents are 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.
Parent-teacher conferences will be held twice a year.

Parents, teachers, or principals may request a conference for students in grades 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.
 
 
 
 
Approved:  12/21/2020                       Reviewed:     11/16/2020        Revised: 11/16/2020

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 licensed employee and the principal. When it becomes evident a student in grades kindergarten through eight maybe retained in a grade level for an additional year, the parents will be informed. It is within the sole discretion of the district to retain students in their current grade level.
•  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 a student in these grades will be unable to meet the minimum credit requirements for the year, the student and parents will be informed. It is within the sole discretion of the district 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.
 

 
Approved:  12/21/2020                       Reviewed:     11/16/2020        Revised: 11/16/2020

The 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 are made aware of honors and awards and the action necessary on the part of the student to achieve them.

To qualify for any post-secondary scholarship and valedictorian and salutatorian recognition at Colo-NESCO High School, a student must have attended the Colo-NESCO High School for at least one semester and a state approved private or public school for a total of eight semesters.  Students who have not attended an accredited public or private school for their entire high school education, will not be eligible for the honor of salutatorian or valedictorian.

It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop the administrative regulations regarding this policy.
 
 
 
Approved:  12/21/2020                       Reviewed:     11/16/2020        Revised: 11/16/2020

A comprehensive testing program is established and maintained to evaluate the education program of the 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 to a survey, analysis or evaluation that reveals information concerning:

•  political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent:
•  mental or psychological problems of the student or the student's family;
•  sex behavior or attitudes;
•  illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
• critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents 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
•  income,(other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such a 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 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.
 
 
 
Approved:  7/17/23                       Reviewed:     11/16/2020        Revised: 7/17/23
 

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 54 credits prior to graduation. The following credits will be required:

The required courses of study will be reviewed by the board annually.

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 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 capitol 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.
 
 

Approved:  8/15/22                    Reviewed:     8/15/22        Revised: 8/15/22

Generally, students will be required to complete the necessary course work and graduate from high school at the end of grade twelve. Students may graduate prior to this time if they meet the minimum graduation requirements stated in board policy. If the only course work the student has not completed is the PE requirement, the board may waive this prerequisite for graduation.

A student who graduates early will no longer be considered a student and will become an alumnus of the school district. However, the student who graduates early may participate in commencement exercises.
 
 
 
 
Approved:  12/21/2020                       Reviewed:     11/16/2020        Revised: 11/16/2020
 

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 school district. It is 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:  12/21/2020                       Reviewed:     11/16/2020        Revised: 11/16/2020

Parental involvement is an important component in a student's success in school. The board encourages parents to become involved in their child's education to ensure the child's academic success.

The board will:

1. Annually invite parents of Title I students to provide input on their child’s program and the program in general; Title I parents will be notified of a meeting(s) when this will take place; Title I parents will have a minimum of 2 parent/teacher conferences with the Title I teacher to review their child’s progress;
2. Provide the coordination, technical assistance and other support necessary to assist participating schools in planning and implementing effective parent involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance by planning on the school calendar parent/teacher conferences and by having principals assist teachers implement effective parent/teacher interaction;
3. Build the schools' and parents' capacity for strong parental involvement;
4. Coordinate and integrate parental involvement strategies under Title I with other programs such as Head Start, Reading First, etc.;
5. Conduct with the involvement of parents, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the parental involvement 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, minorities, parents with disabilities and parents with low literacy) and use the findings of the evaluation to design strategies for more effective parental involvement and to revise, as necessary, the parental involvement policies; and
6. Involve parents in Title I activities.

 The board will review this policy annually. The superintendent is responsible for notifying parents of this policy annually or within a reasonable time after it has been amended during the school year. It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy
 

 
Approved:  12/21/2020                       Reviewed:     3/18/2024        Revised: 11/16/2020