ACADEMIC PROBATION, RETENTION/TRANSFER
Retention Policy
The following policy is taken from Article 6103.4 of the Instructional Handbook for Elementary Schools for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles:
The decision to promote a pupil to the next grade or to retain him/her in the present grade should be based upon a consideration of both the overall welfare of the pupil, i.e.: made by carefully weighing both academic 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 quarter. With the approval of the principal, the teacher should inform the parent regularly during the second quarter of the pupil's progress or possibility of retention.
Retention is more successful in primary grades than in later grades; therefore, the primary grade teachers diligently observe the each learner so that problems may be corrected before the pupil reaches the upper grades. Although the opinions of the teacher and the parents are significant factors, the final decision to retain a pupil is up to the discretion of the principal.
In the case of the 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 transfer might be necessary.
