Promotion, grade-level advancement, and course credit shall be based on mastery of the curriculum. Expectations and standards for promotion shall be established for each grade level, content area, and course and shall be coordinated with compensatory / accelerated services [See EHBC]

To be promoted to the next grade level in grades 1-5 (elementary school), a student must meet the passing requirements based on the District Performance Standards. Students will be retained in the current grade level of one or more of the following conditions are present:

• below a 70 average in reading, or a combination of failure of the grade level TAKS reading test and 2 or more grade levels below the current grade level based on the STAR(Standardized Test for Assessment of Reading ) test.
• below a 70 average in mathematics
• below a 70 average in Language Arts ( English and Composition)
• below a 70 average in science and social studies

On the Texas Learning Index (TLI), a student must attain a score of at least 50 on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test in both reading and mathematics for grades 3,4,and 5. 

Students who fail to meet the grade-level requirements or the TAKS Test score requirement shall be required to attend an Extended Educational Year Program and meet the promotion requirements of that program or be retained.

Students in grades 6-8 (middle school) may be promoted only on the basis of demonstrated proficiency in the subject matter of the grade level. Demonstrated proficiency for the junior high is defined as attaining:

1. A grade of at least 70 on a scale of 100 based on the District Performance Standards and the course standards of the TAKS in both language arts and mathematics.
2. A grade of at least 70 in either science or social studies.
3. At least a TLI score of 50 on the TAKS Test in both reading and mathematics for grades 6-8. 

Parent(s) / guardian(s) of students who are in danger of retention shall be notified by conference or by letter of the student’s possible retention at the end of the fourth sixth-week grading period. The parent(s) / guardian(s) shall receive final notification of the student’s retention at least two weeks prior to the end of the school year for grades 1 and 2 and within ten working days of the receipt of the TAKS scores in grades 3-8.

Students who do not meet passing standards in grades 1-8 for two consecutive years shall be placed in the next grade at the discretion of the Grade Placement Committee (GPC) comprised of the legal custodial parent, teacher, and principal or designee.

Any student retained or placed by the GPC shall receive intensive support. An individualized acceleration plan will be developed in appropriate academic areas.

At the end of the summer extended year program, all retained students in grades 3-8 will be administered a previously released form of the grade-level TAKS test. If the student scores at a level to be passed to the next grade, the student will be immediately promoted.

All retained students shall be required to attend the Extended Year Program (EYP). If a student is retained because of a low grade, that student shall be promoted if he or she attends 90 percent of the 20 school days of the EYP and achieves a grade of at least 70 in the subject(s) failed. If a student is retained because of a low TAKS test score(s), that student shall be promoted if he or she attends 90 percent of the 20 school days of the EYP and scores at a TLI promotion level (depending on the promotion level for the school year the secure-released form TAKS Test is attempted by the student) in the subject(s) tested. If a student were retained for both low grades and low TAKS Test score(s), both of the aforementioned passing standards would have to be satisfied for the student to be promoted.

Students Retained and Are Not Promoted at the Conclusion of the EYP

All students in grades 3-8 not promoted at the conclusion of the EYP shall be required to repeat a grade and shall be required to attend support classes until the standards are satisfied for promotion.