Policy 221 - Program of Study for Early Learning Programs (Grades PK through 5)
Adopted on October 9, 2024
Effective October 9, 2024
The county shall provide for a curriculum of rigorous and challenging coursework, career-focused experiences, and awareness of postsecondary education and employment to all students in grades PK through 5. This curriculum shall comply with and / or exceed the requirements specified by West Virginia state law and West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) policy.
Pre-Kindergarten Program
The Board recognizes that the West Virginia Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program exists as a collaborative partnership between the Board and a community partner(s) and is, in many ways, structured differently than programs in Kindergarten through 12th grade as a reflection of this partnership and its instructional purpose. As such, the Board defers regulation of this program to state policy and the County Collaborative Early Childhood Core Team unless otherwise noted in the Board's policies.
Uniform Grading
All areas on which students are evaluated which represent instruction in the standards-focused curriculum as required by WVBE Policy 2510, including English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, music, visual art, and wellness education, shall be assigned letter grades based on the percentage of mastery of the content as follows.
A: 90% - 100%, 4 quality points
B: 80% - 89%, 3 quality points
C: 70% - 79%, 2 quality points
D: 60% - 69%, 1 quality points
F: 59% or less, 0 quality points
Early Elementary Grading
Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, students in Kindergarten and 1st Grade shall be assigned a measure of progress toward standard achievement in the following academic areas: English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Music, Physical Education / Wellness, and Art. The following measures of progress shall be used:
Emerging or Working Toward Standard
Progressing Toward Standard
At Standard
Above Standard
Beginning with the 2025-26 school year, this shall also apply to students in 2nd Grade.
Honor Roll
School principals may publish a list(s) of students who have achieved academic excellence as measured by grade point average (GPA) at the end of each instructional term and/or year. For the purposes of these recognitions, GPA shall be computed by adding the assigned quality points earned during that instruction term or year for all courses for which the Uniform Grading Scale is applied and dividing that sum by the total number of courses offered on each typical school day or equivalent. Courses that are offered irregularly or on a rotating daily schedule shall be considered proportionally to the time students are actually present in the courses as compared to other regular and/or daily courses.
The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines governing honor roll publication method(s) and frequency and student eligibility.
Placement, Promotion, Retention, and Acceleration
Students shall be assigned to grade levels upon enrollment as appropriate to their social, emotional, and academic development. The Superintendent shall develop administrative guidelines to detail the process that schools shall use to place, promote, retain, and accelerate students, as appropriate, and the responsibilities and expectations of all involved stakeholders, including but not limited to students, teachers, principals, and parents.
Entrance Requirements
Pre-Kindergarten
A child is eligible for entrance into pre-kindergarten if s/he attains the age of four prior to July 1 of the year in which s/he enrolls and has not yet attained the age at which s/he would be eligible to enter kindergarten.
Kindergarten
A child is eligible for entrance into kindergarten if s/he attains the age of five but not yet the age of six prior to July 1 of the year in which s/he enrolls.
Advanced Entrance
The Board may admit to kindergarten such children who attain the age of five prior to September 1 of the school year in which they enroll but not prior to July 1 if and only if the children demonstrate the intellectual and social maturity necessary to perform satisfactorily in kindergarten.
Any child who may apply for advanced entrance to kindergarten shall be individually assessed by a school psychologist to determine if s/he is mature enough mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically to participate successfully in the kindergarten program. Specific tests selected by the psychologist for administration must be approved by the Director of Student Support Services. Any child who is determined to possess the mental, social, emotional, and physical maturity required for successful participation in kindergarten may be recommended to the Superintendent for advanced entrance to kindergarten by the school psychologist who assessed him/her. The Superintendent shall have sole authority to permit such an entrance based on this recommendation.
The Board shall admit to kindergarten any child who was properly enrolled in an approved public school kindergarten before transferring to this County.
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