I. Definitions of Levels, Requirements, and Promotion

4000PROGRAM SERIES 4000PAGE

I. DEFINITIONS OF LEVELS, REQUIREMENTS, AND PROMOTION

A.Assignment, Promotion, and Retention...... 41103

B.Elementary School...... 41204

C.Combination Classroom Standards...... 41255

D.Middle School...... 41306

E.High School ...... 41407

F. District Process for Approving Elective Courses/Special Programs ...... 414510

II. GRADING PLAN...... 421011

A.Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and Graduation Honors ...... 422014

B.Graduation Ceremonies...... 422115

III. SPECIAL PROGRAMS

A.Special Education Programs...... 431016

B.Special Education – Advocate Responsibilities...... 431117

C.Special Education – Continuum of Services...... 431219

D.Special Education – Discipline...... 431320

E.Special Education – Eligibility Determination...... 431421

F.Special Education – Identification of Eligible Students...... 431522

G.Special Education – Individualized Education Plan...... 431623

H.Special Education – Least Restrictive Environment...... 431724

I.Special Education – Preschool...... 431825

J.Special Education – Procedural Safeguards...... 431926

K.Special Education – Notice of Proposed Actions...... 432028

L.Special Education – Surrogate Parents...... 432129

M.Special Education – Transfer of Parental Rights to Students...... 432230

N.Special Education – Transition...... 432331

O.Summer/Night School...... 433032

P.Homebound/Hospital Instruction ...... 435033

Q.HomeSchool Student Enrollment...... 436035

R.Wellness Policy...... 437036

IV. PHYSICAL EDUCATION

A.Accident Insurance for Athletes...... 442059

B.Medical Services...... 443060

C.Scholastic Eligibility for School Activities...... 444061

D.Middle School Athletic Eligibility...... 445062

V.BILINGUAL MULTI-CULTURAL POLICY...... 451063

VI.FIRE DRILLS...... 461064

VII.TEXTBOOK ADOPTIONS...... 462065

VIII.SELECTION OF INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT...... 463066

1. Permission to Review Videos for Possible District Purchase...... 4630A70
2. Request for Reconsideration of Materials...... 4630B71

IX.CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES IN THE CLASSROOM...... 464072

X.COPYRIGHTED MATERIALS...... 465073

4000PROGRAM(CONT’D) SERIES 4000PAGE

XI.RESOURCE SPEAKERS...... 466077

XII.REPAIR OF PRIVATE VEHICLES...... 467078

SERIES 4000REV12/08

4110ASSIGNMENT, PROMOTION, AND RETENTION

Principals, with the assistance of teachers, shall determine all grade-level placement of pupils using all relevant Board policy criteria and relevant New Mexico laws and regulations. Room and class assignment of pupils shall be made by the principal.

State legislation requires the district to notify the parent/guardian no later than the end of the second grading period if it is apparent that his child is failing to attain proficiency of standards at grade level. Students failing to attain proficiency in standards must be identified and an academic improvement plan designed to address academic deficiencies must be developed by a student assistance team consisting of the student's teacher, a school counselor, an administrator and the parent or guardian.

A parent is permitted to sign a waiver to refuse retention of his child in grades one through seven. However, state legislation requires that at the end of the eighth grade, a student who fails to attain proficiency of content standards shall be retained.

The cost of remediation programs remains the responsibility of the local school district for those students in grades one through eight. Students in high school may be charged tuition for remedial courses except where the parent/guardian is determined to be indigent.

The Board acknowledges that the awarding of marks and decisions relative to the promotion and retention of pupils is a responsibility of the professional staff. However, the Board considers it vital that families be consulted at an early date when retention is under consideration.

4110REV 4/01

4120ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

A.Students are admitted to the various grades of the elementary school upon evidence of having successfully attained the required Standards and Benchmarks.

B.If a student does not successfully attain the Standards and Benchmarks in a grade level, he/she must be retained or participate in a remediation plan.

C. At the end of grades one through seven, three options are available, dependent on a student's attainment of the required level of proficiency established by the content standards:

1)The student has attained the level of proficiency required by the content standards and shall enter the next higher grade;

2)The student has not attained the required level of proficiency and shall participate in the required level of remediation. Upon certification by the school district that the student has successfully overcome his areas of deficiency, he shall enter the next higher grade; or

3)The student has not attained the level of proficiency required by the content standards upon completion of the prescribed remediation program and upon the recommendation of the certified school instructor and principal shall either be:

1. Retained in the same grade for no more than one school year with an academic improvement plan developed by the student assistance team in order to attain proficiency of content standards, at which time the student shall enter the next higher grade; or
2. Promoted to the next grade if the parent or guardian refuses to allow his child to be retained. In this case, the parent or guardian shall sign a waiver indicating his desire that the student be promoted to the next higher grade with an academic improvement plan designed to address specific academic deficiencies. The academic improvement plan shall be developed by the student assistance team outlining timelines and monitoring activities to ensure progress toward overcoming those academic deficiencies. Students failing to attain proficiency of content standards at the end of that year shall then be retained in the same grade for no more than one year in order to have additional time to master the required content standards.

4120REV 4/01

4125COMBINATION CLASSROOM STANDARDS

I.Formation of Combination Classroom

The initiation of a combination classroom shall be considered when the average attendance for a grade level is over enrollment and the adjacent grade level is under enrollment based on state standards.

II.Teacher

The selection of the combination room teacher will be made by the principal based on the needs of all students, talents of the staff, and school-wide curriculum.

III.Student

The selection of a student for a combination room will be made by the principal with input from staff/teachers.

The child will possess the ability to work independently, and he/she will have a desire to learn and work cooperatively with other students in small groups/pairs/individually.

The groupings should reflect a range of abilities from high skill level to low skill level that exist in the grade levels in that building, and the groupings should reflect a balance ethnically and by gender.

IV.Enrollment/Class Size

The pupil/teacher ratio in the combination classroom shall be lower than regular education classes at the same level. Under ordinary circumstances primary grades (1-2) shall not exceed 20, and the intermediate grades (3-6), shall not exceed 22. If unusual circumstances cause these limits to be exceeded, single level classrooms will be filled to the state maximum standards for class size before exceeding the recommended combination classroom ratio.

V.Training

Release time for training will be provided to combination room teachers.

VI.Curriculum

Provisions shall be made for the individual needs of the students including meeting the subject/grade level state competencies. Special programs, such as bilingual education, shall be included only after consideration of other options.

VII.Notification of Parents

Direct notification of the formation of a combination classroom and student assignments will be sent to the affected parents by the principal using a standard letter drafted by the district. Parents will be notified a minimum of 5 days prior to the formation of the combination classroom.

4125REV 7/94

4130MIDDLE SCHOOL

A.To be admitted to the middle school, the child must have satisfactorily completed grade five as shown by permanent records, be placed by the principal of the elementary school in which the child attended a fifth grade, or be permitted to enter as a special student on the basis of age, testing, and other evidence that the child will profit more from attending the middle school than by attending elementary school.

1. Sixth grade instruction will meet academic content and performance standards and will be provided in reading and language arts, mathematics, language other than English, communication skills; science, art, music, social studies and physical fitness. (NMSA 22-13.1)

C.Beginning in 2007-08, eighth grade students will be required to have two credits in the core areas of math and language arts prior to promotion to the 9th grade.

Grade / Required Subject / Courses Available / Credits
Per Year
Grade 6 / Intervention
Courses / Math
Reading
(All math and reading intervention courses are pass/fail only) / Pass/Fail
Grade 7 / Intervention
Courses / Math
Reading
(All math and reading intervention courses are pass/fail only) / Pass/Fail
Grade 8 / Math / Pre-Algebra
Algebra and or Honors Algebra I
(high school credit awarded if student passes advanced proficient level on the New Mexico proficiency test in addition to passing course with 75% or higher) / 1
Language Arts / English Language Arts
Reading
ESL/ELD
English Language Development / 1
Intervention
Courses / Math
Reading
(All math and reading intervention courses are pass/fail only) / Pass/Fail
(No credits)
Total Credits required for promotion to 9th Grade, and or proficiency on the New Mexico proficiency test (Math/Language Arts) (Scores must be received prior to the beginning of fall (9th Grade) semester) / 2

D.At the end of the eighth grade, a student who fails to attain proficiency of content standards shall be retained in the eighth grade for no more than one school year in order to attain proficiency of content standards or if the student assistance team determines that retention of the student in the eighth grade will not assist the student attain the appropriate level of academic achievement and proficiency of standards, the team shall design a high school graduation plan to meet the student’s needs for entry into the workforce or a post-secondary educational institution. If a student is retained in the eighth grade, the student assistance team shall develop a specific academic improvement plan that clearly delineates the student’s academic deficiencies and prescribes a specific remediation plan to address those academic deficiencies. NMSA 22-2-8.6 G

4130REV 3/08

4140HIGH SCHOOL

A.The high school consists of grades 9, 10, 11 and 12.

B.To be admitted to high school, the child must have successfully completed grade eight; be placed by the middle school principal on the basis of age, testing, and other evidence that the child will profit more by attending high school than middle school.

1. Promotion from one class to another is based on the number of units earned.

Sophomore / Junior / Senior
Goddard / 5 / 11 / 17
Roswell / 5 / 11 / 17
University / 5 / 11 / 17

D.Twenty-three units are required for graduation from High School. Beginning with students entering the 9th grade in 2009-2010, 24 total units (credits) will be required for graduation. Minimum specified units for graduation are:

Required Course

/ Required
Credits
English / 4 / Four units in English, with major emphasis on grammar and literature
Communication Skills / 1 / Business Education or a language other than English (both must include an emphasis on writing and speaking) can substitute for the required communication skills unit. Beginning with students entering the 9th grade in 2009-2010, 1 unit career cluster, workplace readiness, or a language other than English will be required.
Mathematics / 3
(4) / Beginning with students entering the 9th grade in 2006-07, Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry are required. Beginning with students entering the 9th grade in 2009-2010, four units of math will be required (one unit must be equal to or greater than Algebra II).
Social Studies / 3.5 / N.M. History.5 unit
American Govt./Economics1 unit
U.S. History/Geography1 unit
World History/Geography1 unit
Science / 3 / Beginning with students entering the 9th grade in 2005-06, three units of science will be required, one of which shall have a laboratory requirement. Beginning with students entering the 9th grade in 2009-2010, 2 science courses with labs will be required.
Physical Fitness / 1 / Physical education or other physical activity; i.e., athletics and/or marching band.
Health Education / .5 / Health is a district, not PED requirement
Required Units / 16
(17) / Beginning with students entering the 9th grade in 2009-2010, 17 units will be required.
Electives / 7 / Beginning with students entering the 9th grade in 2009-2010m 7 units of electives will be required, including service learning and financial literacy.
Total Units required for Graduation / 23
(24) / Beginning with students entering the 9th grade in 2009-2010, 24 total units (credits) will be required for graduation.
*By 2009-2010, students entering 9th grade shall earn at least one credit as an advanced placement, honors, dual credit, or distance learning course.
HB 305 requires that all high schools students complete and file a final NEXT STEP PLAN for post-high school goals as a condition for receiving a high school diploma. The effective date for implementation is school year 2003-04 for students entering the 9th grade.

4140HIGH SCHOOL (Cont)

E.A unit of credit is awarded for mastery of competencies as indicated by a passing grade in a designated course.

F.In order to be graduated from a RoswellIndependentSchool District high school, a pupil must be enrolled in the high school the major portion of the last semester of his senior year. Exceptions may be made by the principal in extenuating circumstances.

G.A student who has not passed a state graduation examination in the subject areas of reading, English, math, writing, science and social science shall not receive a high school diploma. The state graduation examination on social science shall include a section on the constitution of the United States and the constitution of New Mexico. If a student exits from the school system at the end of grade twelve without having passed a state graduation examination, he shall receive an appropriate certificate indicating the number of credits earned and the grade completed. If within five years after a student exits from the school system he takes and passes a state graduation examination, he may receive a high school diploma. (NMSA 22-13-1.1.D Graduation Requirements)

(Beginning 2010-2011, a student shall not receive a diploma unless he/she demonstrates competence in math, reading and language arts, writing, social studies, and science, as well as the constitutions of New Mexico and the United States, through a standards-based exam or portfolio of standards-based indicators.)

H.Beginning with the 2008-2009 school year, statewide college and workplace readiness assessments consisting of the following will be given:

Grade 9: Locally administered short-cycle diagnostic assessment in reading, language arts, and math (3x/year);

Grade 10:Locally administered short-cycle diagnostic assessment in reading, language arts, and math as an early indicator of college readiness (3x/yr);

Grade 11: fall – college placement assessment, workforce readiness assessment or alternative demonstration of competency using standards-based indicators; spring – NM Standards Based Assessment as a graduation exam.

I.TRANSFER CREDITS--HIGH SCHOOL POLICY. Roswell schools will accept credits earned in schools not part of the RoswellIndependentSchool District on the following basis:

1.For credits earned in schools accredited by state departments of education or by nationally recognized accrediting agencies, such as North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, R.I.S.D. schools will allow full credit and grade points on the same basis as if they were earned in an R.I.S.D. school.

1. Based on transcript or other verifiable information, credits will be accepted on a pass/fail basis from home school, Upward Bound and the New Mexico Employment Securities Summer Youth Program.

1. Elective credits will be awarded only to these courses set forth in State Statute 22-2-8.4 B (7): "Only the following elective units shall be counted toward meeting the requirements for graduation: fine arts, i.e., music, band, chorus and art; practical arts; physical education; languages other than English; speech; drama; vocational education; mathematics; science; English; R.O.T.C.; social science; computer science; health education; American sign language; and other electives approved by the state board."

Transferring students and their families are responsible for arranging with non-accredited schools to provide appropriate documentation to enable RISD to evaluate claimed credits.

Credits can be earned for correspondence courses under the following provisions:

1. Prior approval must be given to the students and their parents by the appropriate school.
2. Correspondence courses must be taken from accredited educational institutions only.

4140HIGH SCHOOL (Cont)

1. Students must be classified as eleventh or twelfth graders, based on credits earned, during the time that the courses are taken.
2. A maximum of two credits will be accepted toward graduation requirements.

4.Students who enroll in classes at ENMU-R must have prior approval from their respective high school principal and will receive credit in accordance with the RISD/ENMU-R Articulation Document. This document will be reviewed annually.

5.In order to be considered for class rank, the student must have completed at least half the required number of credits for graduation in an American accredited school as defined in #1 above. (4140 I.1.).

GPA and class rank will be calculated on the credits earned in an American accredited school."

6. Foreign Exchange Students may be awarded a Certificate of Completion or a Diploma. The principal (or his designee) will contact all foreign exchange students at the time of entrance in Roswell Schools to determine whether or not a diploma is desired. A foreign exchange student who desires a RoswellIndependentSchool District diploma will be informed of the requirements at the beginning of the school year. Said requirements will include:

a.Declaration of desire to obtain a diploma at the time of entrance in Roswell schools.

b.Provision of an official transcript received by the RoswellIndependentSchool District.

c.Allowing sufficient time for the transcript to be evaluated, including any necessary correspondence with foreign school or departments of education in order to accurately evaluate the transcript.

d.Meeting all state and local requirements for graduation.

J.The RoswellIndependentSchool District will follow the EducationalStandards for Excellence for New Mexico Schools for rewarding diplomas and appropriate state certificates for graduating regular and special education students. District administrative guidelines will be developed and reviewed as needed by the Instruction Office.

4140REV 7/08

4145DISTRICT PROCESS FOR APPROVING ELECTIVE COURSES/SPECIAL PROGRAMS

CRITERIA

1.Determine need for special program or elective course.

2.Proposed curriculum must address components listed in Educational Standards, Chapter Four (Instructional Program Planning and Implementation).

3.The course (program) must be taught by an appropriately licensed instructor.