Retention/Transfer/Withdrawal:
The decision to promote a pupil to the next grade or to retain him/her in the present grade will be based upon a consideration of the overall welfare of the pupil, i.e. made by carefully weighing academic, emotional, and social factors.
In the event that retention is under consideration, the following guidelines should be applied:
1. The teacher is responsible for consistent evaluation, early diagnosis and effective remediation of learning problems. Initially, the teacher should provide remedial help to the pupil within the school setting, either by individualized instruction or some form of tutoring. If such help proves to be inadequate, the teacher should advise the parents to arrange for outside remedial help, such as professional tutoring, parent tutoring or a summer session.
2. The teacher should make the Principal aware of any pupil with significant learning problems by the end of the first trimester. With the approval of the Principal, the teacher should inform the parents regularly during the second trimester of the pupil’s progress or possibility of retention. Copies of communications and reports regarding the student’s progress should be kept on file.
3. Retention is more successful in primary grades than in later grades; therefore, the primary grade teacher should diligently observe the slow learner so that problems may be corrected before the pupil reaches the upper grades. Although the opinions of the teacher and parents are significant factors, the final decision to retain a pupil is the responsibility of the Principal.
4. In the case of a pupil with a severe learning problem it may be necessary to recognize that the parochial school is not equipped to meet the needs of every pupil and that, therefore, a recommended transfer might be necessary.
Procedure for recommended transfer for non- disciplinary reasons
Certain pupils may be given a recommendation to transfer for grounds other than class or school discipline. The following procedure is used for the pupil who is clearly unable to profit from schoolwork by reason of high ability, subnormal ability or serious emotional instability: a. It has been determined that other schools or agencies have facilities to assist such a pupil. b. There has been sufficient discussion with the parents concerning their child’s condition. c. The final decision has been made by the Principal, in consultation with the Pastor.
OLL School grants full credit for all work a student accomplishes up to the time of transfer.
Recommended transfer resulting from parental attitude
Under normal circumstances a pupil is not to be deprived of a Catholic education on grounds relating to the attitude of parents; nevertheless, it is recognized that a situation could arise in which the uncooperative or destructive attitude of parents might so diminish the effectiveness of the school in acting in loco parentis that continuation of the pupil in the school might be impossible in practice. In such a case, it is imperative that the opinion of the Principal regarding practical impossibility be sustained from a Pastoral viewpoint by the Pastor of the parish. The regulations governing recommended transfer would then be applicable.
Report of recommended transfer
The Attendance Department of the local public school district should be notified immediately of all recommended transfers. A copy of the Cumulative Pupil Record should be held until the school requests it.
In the case of a pupil with several learning problems, it may be necessary to recognize that the parochial school is not equipped to meet the needs of every pupil and that, therefore, a recommended transfer may be necessary.
