Promotion and retention of students within Prince George’s County Schools shall be based upon the degree of success the individual student has achieved in completing the educational program designated to meet his/her needs. Promotion and retention will be considered annually in terms of the best placement of an individual student. Promotion is affected when the student has demonstrated appropriate levels of achievement and would benefit from the curriculum designed for the next grade level.
The Board of Education believes that students should not be indiscriminately promoted through the grades without a level of skill mastery that will allow them to be successful at each succeeding grade. Research shows that students learn at different rates and some need longer than others to master specific academic skills. The Chief Executive Officer will oversee the implementation of a system that measures student achievement and provides supplemental programs for students who are not achieving at appropriate levels, subject to annual budget resource availability. Parents must be kept informed of lack of student progress that might result in failure and of the existence of supplemental learning opportunities. (Board Policy 5117)
Maryland Code, Education Article Section 7-205 states that “(a) The promotion of students in a public school and graduation from a public high school shall be in accordance with: (1) Policies established by the county board; and (2) The rules and regulations of the State Board.” The Chief Executive Officer of each local unit is responsible for establishing policies and specific provisions regarding the progression of students from grade to grade.
Appeals of retention decisions must be made in writing to the Associate Superintendent within fifteen (15) calendar days by the parent or guardian. The Associate Superintendent, or his/her designee, shall review the appeal and notify the parent or guardian of his/her decision within fifteen (15) calendar days. The Associate Superintendent or his/her designee’s decision shall be final.
Middle School
Promotion: For purposes of clarification in this procedure, a middle school student is any student in grades 6 (including elementary based), 7, and 8.
The middle school years are a time when students consolidate previous learning, explore new program areas, and focus on continuous development and application of academic skills.
Middle school students are expected to successfully complete all subjects taken.
Promotion from middle school to high school will be based on the criteria as listed in the transition skills document attached to this procedure.
Promotion and retention of students from middle school to high school will be discussed in collaboration with the Instructional Director.
The final decision for promotions shall be made by the Associate Superintendent.
Retention: A student will be considered for retention when the student has not achieved satisfactorily in response to interventions based upon his/her needs, and would benefit from additional experiences with the curriculum at the same grade level.
Maryland High School assessments should be included.
From Grade 11 to 12, a student must have a total of fourteen units of credits, including three credits of English, two credits of mathematics, one credit of science, one credit of social studies, and be able to fulfill all requirements, not to exceed nine original credits per year during the regular school day, for a Maryland High School Diploma in June.
All seniors must be enrolled in courses daily to meet their graduation requirements. A minimum of four credits is required (see Administrative Procedure 6150).
In addition, a student must have taken all required course assessments. An exception will be made for students entering a high school their senior year from another Maryland LEA or from out of state.
Students must meet the assessment requirements or alternative option per entry year in high school in order to graduate with a Maryland High School Diploma (see Administrative Procedure 6150).
Students must meet the service-learning requirements per entry year in high school in order to graduate with a Maryland High School Diploma (see Administrative Procedure 6151). Failure to achieve either option will result in a student not being able to graduate, regardless of credits and grades earned.
Promotion for entering freshmen in Fall 2021 (students entering high school in school year 2021-2022) or after:
From Grade 9 to 10, a student must have a total of five units of credit, including one credit of English and one credit of Mathematics. Progress toward fulfilling the graduation requirement with regards to the Maryland High School assessments should be included.
From Grade 10 to 11, a student must have a total of ten units of credit, including two credits of English, two credits of mathematics, one credit of science, and one credit of social studies. Progress toward fulfilling the graduation requirement with regards to Maryland High School assessments should be included.
From Grade 11 to 12, a student must have a total of fourteen units of credits, including three credits of English, three credits of mathematics, one credit of science, one credit of social studies, and be able to fulfill all requirements, not to exceed nine original credits per year during the regular school day, for a Maryland High School Diploma in June.
All seniors must be enrolled in courses daily to meet their graduation requirements. A minimum of four credits is required (see Administrative Procedure 6150).
In addition, a student must have taken all required course assessments. An exception will be made for students entering a high school their senior year from another Maryland LEA or from out of state.
Students must meet the assessment requirements or alternative option per entry year in high school in order to graduate with a Maryland High School Diploma (see Administrative Procedure 6150).
Students must meet the service-learning requirements per entry year in high school in order to graduate with a Maryland High School Diploma (see Administrative Procedure 6151). Failure to achieve either option will result in a student not being able to graduate, regardless of credits and grades earned.
Promotion/Retention/Graduation requirements for ESOL Students: ESOL students at any grade level should not be retained solely on the basis of their English proficiency (see Administrative Procedure 5111.3).
Notification of Seniors of Graduation Status:
Graduation Notification/Agreement (electronic and/or PS-13) will be completed with each senior in a conference with his/her school counselor during the first eight weeks of the senior year.
The original copy will be retained for the school file; a copy will either be sent by S. mail or emailed to the student and parent or guardian prior to the end of the first grading period.
NOTE: Senior students entering after issuance of the first report card will, at the time of registration, complete a Graduation Notification/ Agreement. If an official transcript from the previous school is not available, a note on the Graduation Notification/Agreement will indicate “pending receipt of official previous school records.”
When official records are received, a Graduation Notification/Agreement will be completed.
Additional notification of student’s progress on the assessment requirements, credits earned, and grades is provided in the form of progress reports and report cards issued every nine Ongoing communication will be provided to parents of seniors in danger of not graduating.
Students not meeting graduation requirements will be notified immediately following final examinations by a personal conference with appropriate staff, a telephone call to parents or guardians, and a certified letter sent to parents or guardians.
Appeal of Denial of Diploma for Failure to Meet Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Requirement (see COMAR 13A.03.02.09-1)
)The principal or his/her designee shall notify each senior and the senior's parents or guardians on or before the end of February of the senior year if a student may not graduate. The notice shall explain the reasons the student may not graduate, the options available to meet all graduation requirements, that a waiver of the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment graduation requirement may be one of the options if the student meets the criteria, the waiver process and timeline, and to submit information in writing to the principal concerning eligibility of their child for the waiver.
)On or before the end of February, the principal shall report to the area superintendent the name and student identification number of each student identified in the February notice.
)On or before April 1, the principal shall identify each student who may fail to graduate because the student has taken none or failed some or all of the required Maryland Comprehensive Assessments
On or before April 1, the principal shall report to the area superintendent the name and student identification number of each student identified as meeting the criteria in C.
By April 1, for each senior identified, the school principal shall consider whether to recommend to the area superintendent a waiver of the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment graduation requirements that the student has not fulfilled to date if:
)The student meets the following criteria:
The student has or will meet all other graduation requirements;
The student has or will take all required Maryland Comprehensive Assessments before the graduation date; and
If the student had an opportunity to participate in one or more interventions, or remediation opportunities, including the Bridge Plan, the student participated in them; and
The student is prevented from meeting the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment graduation requirements because:
Of a decision made by PGCPS concerning the provision of appropriate assistance;
The student experienced a circumstance(s) preceding the administration of the most recent Maryland Comprehensive Assessment, such as a recent death in the immediate family, a serious or prolonged illness or pregnancy with medical complications, an accident causing serious injury, or a destructive house fire;
The student moved to the United States in the junior or senior year and the student is literate in the student's native language but not literate in English; or
The student moved to Maryland in the senior year, has passed all the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment courses, but has failed the related Maryland Comprehensive Assessment, and has had no adequate opportunity for intervention.
On or about April 1, the principal shall notify the student and the student's parents or guardians that the student is being considered for a waiver of the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment graduation requirements that the student has not fulfilled to date. The notice shall explain the waiver decision-making process.
On or before May 1, the principal of the high school shall make a Maryland Comprehensive Assessment waiver recommendation to the area superintendent for each student who meets the criteria set forth with the participation of:
The student's IEP team, if the student is a student with disabilities;
The English Language Learner staff, if the student is an English Language Learner;
Other school personnel; or
One or more of them.
The principal shall explain the reason for each recommendation, whether the recommendation is to grant or deny the waiver;
The area superintendent shall review each recommendation and shall:
Grant or deny the waiver;
Promptly notify the student and the student's parent or guardian of the decision; and
If the waiver is granted, include in the notification the local procedures and requirements that must be met for a diploma to be awarded.
The area superintendent's decision in this matter is not appealable to the local Board of Education, but may be appealed to the Chief of School Support and Leadership and then to State Superintendent of Schools.
A student or the student's parents or guardians may appeal the waiver denial to the State Superintendent by sending a written appeal letter explaining why the waiver denial was an arbitrary or unreasonable decision. The State Superintendent may affirm or reverse the local superintendent's decision and shall inform the student, the student's parents or guardians, the local superintendent, and the State Board in writing of the decision.
The decision of the State Superintendent may be appealed to the circuit court.
By August 1, the Chief of School Support and Leadership by approval of the Chief Executive Officer shall send a report to the State Superintendent or the State Superintendent's designee on waiver decisions.
No part of this procedure is intended to establish any right to participate in the graduation ceremony while an appeal is pending.
Participation in the graduation ceremony remains at the discretion of local leadership.
Maryland Code, Education Article Section 7-205
The Division of Academics and the Division of School Support and Leadership will be responsible for updating these procedures as needed.
This Administrative Procedure cancels and supersedes Administrative Procedure 5123.2, dated February 15, 2017.
September 2, 2021
Appendix A – Transition Skills
Appendix B – Grades K-8
Appendix C – Grades 9-12
DATE |
ACTIVITY |
PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE |
August/September |
|
Principal, Student Intervention Team (SIT), Counselor, Staff |
October/November |
|
Principal, Student Support Team (SST), Counselor, Teacher |
November/December |
|
Principal, SIT, SST, Counselor, Teacher |
January/February |
|
Principal, Teacher, Counselor, SIT, SST |
March/April |
|
Principal, Teacher, Counselor, SST |
May/June |
|
Principal, Teacher, Counselor, SST |
DATE |
ACTIVITY |
PERSON(S) RESPONSIBLE |
August/September |
|
Principal, Student Intervention Team (SIT), Counselor, Staff |
October |
|
Principal, Counselor, Teacher, Student Support Team (SST) |
November |
|
Principal, Counselor, Teacher, SST |
November |
|
Principal, Counselor, Teacher, SST |
December/January |
|
Principal, Counselor, Teacher, SST |
February |
|
Principal, Administrators, Counselors, Teachers |
March |
|
Principal, Administrators, Counselors, Teachers |
April (End of Third Marking Period) |
|
Principal, Administrators, Counselors, Teachers, SST |
May |
|
Principal, Administrators, Counselors, Teachers, SST |
Last Revised: September 2, 2021