Students will receive a progress report at the end of each grading period. Students, who are doing poorly, and their parents, are notified prior to the end of the semester in order to have an opportunity to improve their grade. The board encourages the notification of students who have made marked improvement prior to the end of the semester.
Parent-teacher conferences will be held twice per year in grades PK-12. Parents, teachers, or principals may request a conference for students in grades kindergarten through twelve in addition to the scheduled conference time. Parents and students are encouraged to discuss the student's progress or other matters with the student's teacher.
Parents, teachers, or principals may request a conference for students in grades kindergarten through twelve in addition to the scheduled conference time. Parents and students are encouraged to discuss the student's progress or other matters with the student's teacher.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 256.11, .41; 280, 284.12
281 I.A.C. 12.3(4), 12.3(6), .5(16).
Adopted: February 14, 2007
Reviewed: November 11, 2015; August 14, 2024
Board Policy East Buchanan Community Schools
Students will be promoted to the next grade level at the end of each school year based on the student's achievement, age, maturity, emotional stability, and social adjustment.
The district shall adhere to the following:
Retention/Promotion in kindergarten – eighth grade: The retention of a student will be determined based upon the judgment of the district’s professional staff. When it becomes evident a student in grades kindergarten through eight may be retained in a grade level for an additional year, the parents will be informed prior to making the retention decision. It is within the sole discretion of the district to retain students in their current grade level and to deny promotion to a student.
Retention/Promotion in ninth – twelfth grade: Students in grades nine through twelve will be informed of the required course work necessary to be promoted each year. When it becomes evident a student in these grades will be unable to meet the minimum credit requirements for the year, the student and parents will be informed. It is within the sole discretion of the district to retain students in their current grade level and to deny promotion to a student.
Acceleration in kindergarten – twelfth grade: Students in grades kindergarten through twelve with exceptional talents may, with the permission of the principal and parents, take classes beyond their current grade level. Enrichment opportunities outside the school district may be allowed when they do not conflict with the school district's graduation requirements.
Retention or Acceleration in kindergarten – twelfth grade may also occur in additional instances as provided by law.
For students in grades kindergarten through sixth, if a student is not reading at a proficient level, the district will notify a student’s parent or guardian of the student’s reading level, and the option for parents to request that the student be retained in the student’s current grade level for the subsequent school year. The district is prohibited from promoting a student to the next grade level if the student is not reading proficiently, and the student’s parent or guardian requests the student be retained at their current grade level for the next year.
Any student or parent who is not satisfied with the decision of the district’s professional staff may seek recourse through policy 502.4 – Student Complaints and Grievances.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 256.11, 279.8; .68.
281 I.A.C. 12.5(16).
Cross Reference: 410.2 Summer School Licensed Employees
603.2 Summer School Instruction
Adopted: July 12, 2000
Reviewed: January 8, 2003; February 14, 2007; November 11, 2015; November 15, 2017; August 14, 2024
Board Policy East Buchanan Community School District
The school district will provide a program that establishes honors and awards including, but not limited to, academic letters, scholarships and good citizenship awards for students to assist students in setting goals. Students are made aware of honors and awards and the action necessary on the part of the student to achieve them. Students who have not attended an accredited public or private school for their entire high school education, will not be eligible for honors and awards.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to develop the administrative regulations regarding this policy.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code § 279.8
Cross Reference: 501.6 Student Transfers In
Approved: February 14, 2007
Reviewed: November 11, 2015; August 14, 2024
A comprehensive testing program is established and maintained to evaluate the education program of the school district and to assist in providing guidance or counseling services to students and their families.
No student is required, as part of any applicable program, funded by the United States Department of Education, to submit to a survey, analysis or evaluation that reveals information concerning:
political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent or guardian:
mental or psychological problems of the student or the student's family;
sex behavior or attitudes;
illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior;
critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
legally recognized, privileged and analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians and ministers;
religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent or guardian; or
income, (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).
without the prior consent of the student (if the student is an adult or emancipated minor), or in the case of an unemancipated minor, without the prior written consent of the parent.
Prior to an employee or contractor of the district providing information on a student enrolled in the district on any survey related to the social or emotional abilities, competencies or characteristics of the student; the district will provide the parent/guardian of the student detailed information related to the survey and obtain written consent of the parent/guardian of the student. This includes the person who created the survey, the person who sponsors the survey, how the information generated by the survey is used and how information generated by the survey is stored. This requirement will not prohibit a district employee from answering questions related to a student enrolled in the district as part of developing or implementing an individualized education program for the student.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent, in conjunction with the principal, to develop administrative regulations regarding this policy.
It is the responsibility of the board to review and approve the evaluation and testing program.
Legal Reference: 20 U.S.C. § 1232h
Iowa Code §§ 2279.79; 80.3
Cross Reference: 607.2 Student Health Services
607.2R1 Student Health Services Regulation
Adopted: February 14, 2007
Reviewed: November 11, 2015; August 14, 2024
Board Policy East Buchanan Community Schools
Students must successfully complete the courses required by the board and Iowa Department of Education in order to graduate.
It is the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure that students complete grades one through twelve and that high school students complete the required credits prior to graduation as outlined in the student handbook.
The required courses of study will be reviewed by the board annually.
Prior to graduation, the district will advise students on how to successfully complete the free application for federal student aid.
Graduation requirements for special education students include successful completion of four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies and three years of science.
Students who complete a regular session in the Legislative Page Program of the general assembly at the state capitol will be credited ½ credit of social studies.
Students enrolled in a junior officers’ training corp will receive 1/8th physical education credit for each semester the student is enrolled in the program.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 256.7, 11, .41; 279.8; 279.61; 280.3, .14.
281 I.A.C. 12.3(5); 12.5
Cross Reference: 603.3 Special Education
Approved: February 14, 2007
Last Reviewed: February 8, 2023
Board Policy East Buchanan Community Schools
Generally, students will be required to complete the necessary course work and graduate from high school at the end of grade twelve. Students may graduate prior to this time if they meet the minimum graduation requirements stated in board policy.
A student who graduates early will no longer be considered a student and will become an alumnus of the school district. However, the student who graduates early may participate in commencement exercises.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 280.3
281 I.A.C. 12.3(5); 12(5)
Cross Reference: 505 Student Scholastic Achievement
Approved: February 14, 2007
Reviewed: November 11, 2015; March 9, 2022; August 14, 2024
Board Policy East Buchanan Community Schools
Students who have met the requirements for graduation will be allowed to participate in the commencement proceedings provided they abide by the proceedings organized by the school district. Students will not participate in commencement until all financial and disciplinary obligations are fulfilled or a plan is established with the business office. It is the responsibility of the principal to solicit input from each graduating class regarding the proceedings for their commencement.
Failure of a student to participate in commencement will not be a reason for withholding the student's final progress report or diploma certifying the student's completion of high school.
Legal Reference: Iowa Code §§ 279.8; 280.3, .14 (2013).
281 I.A.C. 12.5.
Cross Reference: 505 Student Scholastic Achievement
Approved: February 14, 2007
Reviewed: November 11, 2015; May 8, 2024; August 14, 2024
Parent and family engagement is an important component in a student’s success in school. The board encourages parents and families to become involved in their child’s education to ensure the child’s academic success. In order to facilitate parent and family involvement, it is the goal of the district to conduct outreach and implement programs, activities and procedures to further involve parents and families with the academic success of their students. The board will:
Involve parents and families in the development of the Title I plan, the process for school review of the plan and the process for improvement by:
Parents and families will be provided information and given opportunities for feedback as it relates to the Title1 program through information and resources shared in the Title Parent Brochure, parent survey completed each spring, student progress shared each trimester, and participation in parent-teacher conferences.
Provide the coordination, technical assistance and other support necessary to assist and build the capacity of all participating schools in planning and implementing effective parent and family involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance by:
Student selection will be based on multiple factors. These factors are based on formative reading assessment scores through FAST, reading recovery test packets (RRTP) as well as Fountas and Pinnell (F&P) – bench mark assessment system for reading level and data trends over time. Students will not be accepted into the Title I program if they are receiving an individualized education plan in the area of reading. If a student has an IEP in the area of reading, their services would fall under special education.
To the extent feasible, coordinate and integrate parent and family engagement strategies under Title I with parent and family engagement strategies outlined in other relevant Federal, State, and local laws and programs by:
The school provides a parent compact that outlines what the parent, student, teacher, and principal will do to increase student achievement. This compact is provided to the parents of all Title I students and outlines the ways in which all stakeholders will work together to achieve proficiency.
Conduct with the involvement of parents and family members, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the parental and family engagement policy in improving the academic quality of the school served including identifying: barriers to greater participation by parents in Title I activities (with particular attention to low-income parents, Limited English Proficient (LEP) parents, parents of any racial or ethnic minority, parents with disabilities and parents with low literacy); needs of parents and family to assist their children’s learning; and strategies to support successful school and family interactions by:
Parents of selected Title I students will be sent a parent letter outlining their child’s participation in the Title I program and a returned, signed parent permission slip is required. The Title I teacher will attend the fall and spring parent/teacher conferences to update parents on the progress of the student. Trimester updates will also be completed by the teacher and a paper copy sent home with report cards. If there is a need, the teacher and/or parents have the right to call for a conference. Input from parents on the planning, review and improvement of the Title I program will be gathered through the spring parent Title I parent survey.
Use the findings of the annual evaluation to design strategies for more effective parent and family involvement and to revise, as necessary, the parent and family involvement policies by:
The results from the spring parent survey will be analyzed and incorporated when possible and applicable.
Involve parents and families in Title I activities by
Through the spring parent survey, parents will be able to comment on the effectiveness of the Title I program. Additional parent resources are provided in the Title I parent brochure and there are opportunities for collaboration during parent/teacher conferences. The brochure provides parents multiple suggestions and ideas on how to engage with their students in reading.
The district shall involve parents in determining how to allocate reserved Title I funds in accordance with applicable laws.
The board will review this policy annually. The superintendent is responsible for notifying parents and families of this policy annually or within a reasonable time after it has been amended during the school year. The superintendent may develop an administrative process or procedures to implement this policy.
Cross Reference: 903.2 – Community Resource Persons and Volunteers
Approved: May 10, 2006
Reviewed: November 11, 2015; December 13, 2023; August 14, 2024
East Buchanan Community School District
To further the interests of student achievement, the superintendent will create necessary rules to engage parents and family members within the district in the following ways on a building-level basis:
Policy Involvement: The district will host an annual meeting and invite all parents to attend; and inform parents of their rights and the district’s requirements under Title I. This meeting will also invite parents to become involved in the planning, review and improvement of a building policy and in developing the district plan. The district will inform parents of:
programs under this policy,
curriculum and assessment used for students,
the opportunity to meet with administration to participate in decisions related to their children’s education,
a description and explanation of curriculum used in the school forms of academic assessment used to measure student progress, and
achievement levels of the challenging State academic standards.
Accessibility: Provide opportunities for informed participation of parents and family members in understandable formats and languages. This includes participation by parents and family members who may have disabilities, limited English proficiency, and migratory children. Offer a flexible number of meetings during the day, evening and weekends to facilitate parent involvement. The superintendent has discretion to allow schools to provide childcare for families of students during these meetings through Title I funds.
High Student Academic Achievement: Each school in the district will jointly develop with parents and family members a school-parent compact that outlines how parents, staff and students share responsibility for improving student academic achievement; and how a partnership will be built to achieve this. The compact will describe the responsibility of the school to provide high quality curriculum and instruction, and the parents’ responsibility to support their children’s learning. This will also address the importance of communication between schools and parents through parent teacher conferences, regular reports to parents on their children’s progress, and ensuring regular meaningful communication between family and school staff.
Building Capacity for Involvement: Each school within the district will include in their plan ways to achieve the following:
Assist parents and families to understand topics including academic standards and assessments and how to monitor student progress;
Provide materials and training to help parents work with students to improve achievement;
Educate teachers and staff in how to communicate with parents and build ties to foster academic success;
Coordinate and integrate other federal, state and local programs to support parents in more fully participating in students’ education;
Ensure information related to programs is sent to parents and families in understandable formats; and
Provide other reasonable support to encourage parental involvement
Schools Operating a Schoolwide Program: Each school operating a schoolwide program under this policy shall:
Involve parents on a timely and ongoing basis in the planning, review and improvement of programs, including the parent and family engagement school policy drafting and review, and the joint development of the schoolwide program.
If the schoolwide program plan is not satisfactory to the parents of the participating children, parent comments will be requested and submitted with the plan to the district.
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Legal References: 20 U.S.C. §6318 Cross References: 903.2 Community Resource Persons and Volunteers |
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Legal References: 20 U.S.C. §6318 Cross References: 903.2 Community Resource Persons and Volunteers |
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East Buchanan CSD
A number of revisions to board policy need to be made as a result of two recent federal laws – No Child Left Behind (reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act - ESEA) and the Patriot Act (anti-terrorism legislation). Boards need to analyze the changes to determine to what extent they will need to revise or add policies. Please recognize that this is an ever-evolving law ant issues addressed here may change as a result of U.S. Department of Education regulation.
Title I Parental Involvement, Title I, Sec. 1118
Each school district that receives Title I funds must adopt, in conjunction with and upon approval by parents of Title I students, a parental involvement policy. The policy must include how the district will:
1. involve parents in the development of the Title I plan, the process for school review of the plan and the process for improvement;
2. provide the coordination, technical assistance and other support necessary to assist participating schools in planning and implementing effective parent-involvement activities to improve student academic achievement and school performance;
3. build the schools’ and parents’ capacity for strong parental involvement;
4. coordinate and integrate parental involvement strategies under Title I with other programs such as Head Start, Reading First, etc.;
5. conduct, with the involvement of parents, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the parental involvement policy in improving the academic quality of the school served, including identifying barriers to greater participation by parents in Title I activities (with particular attention to low-income parents, Limited English Proficient (LEP) parents, minorities, parents with disabilities and parents with low literacy) and use the findings of such evaluation to design strategies for more effective parental involvement and to revise, as necessary, the parental involvement policies; and
6. involve parents in Title I activities.
In addition to the board policy, each individual school that receives Title I funds must also adopt a policy, written in conjunction with and approval or parents, that describes how the building will implement #3-#6 above. Parents must be provided with the policy in an understandable and uniform format and, to the extent practicable, in a language the parents can understand.
Directory Information and Parental Notification, Title IX, Sec. 9528 (NCLB) Patriot Act,
Because of an amendment to the Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) in the recent No Child Left Behind legislation, school districts have two additional student records notice requirements. The first is a minor amendment and only needs to be added if your school district has the intent of selling or marketing your student directory information. The law now requires school districts to notify parents if the school district intends to sell or market its student directory information. It is IASB’s impression that few, if any, school districts will be selling this information.
The other change to FERPA was partly in the NCLB and partly in the Patriot Act, anti-terrorism bill, and addresses access by military recruiters and postsecondary institutions to student information. The law allows both groups to access students’ names, addresses and phone numbers, whether or not they are included in directory information. So, for those school districts that do not include names, addresses or phone numbers as part of directory information, parents should be notified that military recruiters and postsecondary institutions can still access the information without prior parental consent. Parents still have the option, however, of withholding the name, address and phone number from military recruiters and postsecondary institutions.
The sample notice has additional language to be used by the school districts that eliminate one or more of these items. There is a second directory information form for those same school districts.
The other change regarding military recruiters is that they have the same right of access to students as post secondary institutions and potential employers have. So, if your district provides access to students by colleges and universities, you need to provide that same access to military recruiters when requested. No notice requirements are included with this provision.
Safe and Drug Free Schools, Title IV, Sec. 4114
Schools must have appropriate and effective school discipline policies that prohibit disorderly conduct, the illegal possession of weapons, the illegal use, possession, distribution, and sale of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Schools must also have security procedures at school and while students are on the way to or from school (this is of great concern as it’s not defined) and a crisis management plan. Schools must also have a code of conduct policy for all students that clearly states the responsibilities of students and licensed employees in maintaining a classroom environment that:
1. allows a teacher to communicate effectively with all students;
2. allows all students in the class to learn;
3. has consequences that are fair and developmentally appropriate;
4. considers the student and the circumstances of the situation; and
5. is enforced accordingly.
Gun-Free, Title IV, Sec. 4141
The major change here is that no longer is “bringing” a weapon to school the only act prohibited by the law, “possession” is also now prohibited and covered by the year suspension. The law also includes an exception for firearms lawfully stored inside a locked vehicle on school property or if it is for activities approved and authorized by the district and the district adopts appropriate safeguards to ensure student safety. Boards that want to exempt firearms lawfully stored in a locked vehicle on school property need to add that language to the policy and have procedures to ensure student safety. The IASB sample policy did not change as it already prohibited “bringing” as well as possession.
Boy Scouts, Title IX, Sec. 9525
Schools that receive funds from the United States Department of Education (USDE), with designated open forums or limited public forums, cannot deny access to any youth group officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts or any other group defined by law as a patriotic society, for reasons based on membership or leadership criteria, or oath of allegiance to God and country, the Boy Scouts or other patriotic society. Youth is defined as under age 21. Limited public forum is whenever the school grants an offering to, or opportunity for, one or more outside youth or community groups to meet on school premises or in school facilities before or after school hours. While no specific policy language is required, boards should review their policies to ensure no policy violates this new language. It is doubtful any Iowa boards have language that would violate this new mandate, but policies regarding use of school facilities or on student groups should be reviewed.
Prayer, Title IX, Sec. 9524
The USDE will biennially provide guidance to schools on the issue of constitutionally protected prayer. (As of this printing, no guidance has yet been issued.) Also, as a condition of receiving ESEA funds, a school district must certify to the state Department of Education (DE), that the school district does not have a policy that prevents or denies participation in constitutionally protected prayer in school. Again, as with the Boy Scouts directive, its doubtful boards have policies that impact constitutionally protected prayer, but policies should be reviewed to ensure none exist.
Homeless, Title X, Sec. 722
The only real change in the new federal law impacting Iowa is the appointment of a homeless coordinator to monitor and track activities. The law removes a number of barriers that are already present in Iowa law – transportation, student records, selection of attendance center, discrimination, etc.
Hatch Amendment, Title X, Sec.1061
There are a number of changes to the Hatch Amendment, which protects student privacy rights outside of the student records policy. The law now states (new language is underlined):
No student shall be required, as part of any applicable program, to submit to a survey, analysis or evaluation that reveals information concerning:
1. political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent;
2. mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family, (struck “potentially embarrassing to the student or family”)
3. sex behavior or attitudes; (used to be “and”)
4. illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating or demeaning behavior; (used to be “and”)
5. critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
6. legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians and ministers;
7. religious practices, affiliations or beliefs of the students or student’s parent, or
8. income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).
Boards that receive funds under any applicable program must adopt, in consultation with parents, policies that address the following six items. The school must also provide reasonable notice to parents of the continuation of the policies at least annually at the beginning of the school year and within a reasonable time after an amendment. The school must also give the parents the opportunity to opt their child out of the activity.
1. the right of the parent to inspect a survey created by a third party before that survey is administered by the school to students; also must include any applicable procedures for granting the request within a reasonable time;
2. arrangements to protect student privacy rights when a survey is administered by the school which contains one of the prohibited eight from above, including the right of the parent to inspect the survey;
3. the right of a parent to inspect any instructional material in the student’s curriculum, including procedures for granting access within a reasonable time; (Most boards already have this policy in place.)
4. the administration of physical exams or screenings the school may administer;
5. the collection, disclosure or use of student personal information for the purpose of marketing or selling that information, or providing the information to others for that purpose, including arrangements to protect student privacy in the event of such collection, disclosure or use. (Student personal information is defined as a student or parent’s name, address, telephone number or Social Security number.) This does not include personal information collected for the exclusive purpose of developing, evaluating, or providing educational products or services for, or to, students or educational institutions such as: (See Appendix D.)
a. postsecondary institutions or military recruiters;
b. book clubs, magazines and programs providing access to low-cost literary products;
c. curriculum and instructional materials used by K-12 schools;
d. tests and assessments used by K-12 to provide cognitive, evaluative, diagnostic, clinical, aptitude, or achievement information about students, or to generate other statistically useful data for the purpose of securing these tests and assessments, and the subsequent analysis and public release of the aggregate data from these tests and assessments;
e. the sale by students of products or services to raise funds for school or education related activities; or,
f. student recognition program.
6. the right of a parent to inspect the instrument used to collect student personal information before use, including any applicable procedure for granting a request within a reasonable time.
For specific events, the school must notify the parents annually of the projected or approximate dates of the following activities:
1. the collection, disclosure or use of student personal information for the purpose of marketing or selling that information, or providing the information to others for that purpose;
2. the administration of a survey containing any of the eight items above; and
3. any non-emergency, invasive physical exam that is required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school in advance of attendance and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of the student or other students. Invasive physical exam is defined as any “medical examination that involves the exposure of private body parts, or any act during such examination that includes incision, insertion or injection in to the body, but does not include a hearing, vision, or scoliosis exam.”
East Buchanan Community School District