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Board adopts third-grade promotion/retention policy required by Act 20; implementation phased to 2027
Summary
The Stevens Point Area Public School Board adopted policy 5411 addressing promotion and possible retention of third-grade students identified as at risk, in compliance with Act 20. The district will use state-recommended factors and phased implementation beginning September 1, 2027.
The Stevens Point Area Public School Board approved policy 5411, establishing procedures for deciding promotion or retention of third-grade students identified as at-risk under the statutory requirements described by Act 20. The board adopted the policy after a staff presentation explaining the policy's scope and timeline.
District staff said the policy applies to third-grade students who score below the twenty-fifth percentile on the district's universal screeners for reading; universal screening occurs three times per year in English language arts and math. Chris (presenter) told the board the policy was drafted by the district's vendor (Neola) and reviewed by elementary principals and reading instructional leads.
Why it matters: Chris said the policy is required to be adopted by June 1, 2025 under Act 20, and the board set a phased implementation date of Sept. 1, 2027 to allow planning, communication and additional supports to reduce the number of students at risk before full implementation.
District data presented at the meeting show 107 third-grade students currently have personalized reading plans (PRPs) or scored below the stated screening threshold; the district-wide K'2 population currently has about 457 active PRPs. Staff said many students move off PRPs between screening windows'for example, the district reported roughly 100 students exited supports between the fall and winter assessments across multiple grades.
The adopted policy directs staff to consider the full set of Neola/state-specified factors when making promotion decisions. Chris explained the district will use the complete list of recommended factors and that, although the district may recommend retention with supports, parents retain final decision-making authority; if parents decline a district recommendation to retain, the district will document the disagreement in the student's file.
A motion to approve policy 5411 was made by Alex and seconded by G; the motion carried. Board members pressed for comparative data but staff said statewide reporting will be available through the state's required reporting channels and that staff will provide comparative figures as they become available.
Ending: The board adopted the policy now to meet the statutory deadline and set Sept. 1, 2027 for full implementation so the district can expand supports and monitoring before decisions are applied at scale.
