District 81 May Revise Its Retention Policy Students Would Have To Show Mastery Before Advancing

Spokane students may soon find it harder to pass from one grade to another as easily as they used to.

School District 81 educators are considering a policy requiring kids to prove they’ve mastered certain academic skills before they can move ahead.

Supporters say such standards would keep struggling students from slipping through the cracks and graduating without being prepared for life beyond high school.

“This is one of the most important things we’re doing,” said Superintendent Gary Livingston.

Starting tonight, they’re asking for input from parents and others on what such a policy would say.

They’re posing three main questions:

Should students be required to meet specific standards in certain subjects?

Should they be refused entrance to the next grade level if they don’t qualify?

What should happen when students don’t qualify for the next grade level?

Students could be required to prove they’re qualified before entering middle school and high school, according to early policy drafts.

Such a policy would probably mean more students would be held back a grade, although many educators say that’s not the best way to get kids up to speed.

The practice of retaining students, or making them repeat a grade, has declined in Spokane schools in recent years. District records show 233 elementary students were retained in 1986, compared with 22 last year.

Educators are tossing around other ideas for helping kids catch up, such as Saturday school, homework centers, summer classes and tutor programs.

The policy “could mean a huge investment in teachers, in materials, in programs, in assessments,” Associate Superintendent Cynthia Lambarth said at a recent meeting.

Costs can’t be calculated until plans are solidified, she said.

The school board hopes to approve a policy in January and begin putting it in place next fall.

Educators must also decide how to assess kids’ progress. Would written tests be used? If so, which ones? And who would make the final decision about whether a student moves on?

Members of the district’s citizens equity committee are concerned the policy will treat some students unfairly.

What about special education students, they ask, or students who are still learning English? Will they be expected to perform as well as children without those hurdles?

“As a former special education teacher, this pushes my buttons,” said Helen Bonser, a member of the Instructional Equity Citizens Advisory Committee.

Board members hope parents will address these questions and bring up other concerns at the public forums. They also plan to get input from school councils, teachers, church groups and business leaders.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: WHAT’S NEXT People are invited to share their ideas for revising School District 81’s promotion/retention policy at six public forums. Each begins at 7 p.m. Tonight East Central Community Center 500 S. Stone Tuesday, Oct. 28 Shaw Middle School 4106 N. Cook Thursday, Oct. 30 South Hill Library 3324 S. Perry Thursday, Nov. 13 Salk Middle School 6411 N. Alberta Tuesday, Nov. 18 Havermale Alternative Center 1300 W. Knox Thursday, Nov. 20 Glover Middle School 2404 W. Longfellow