**JG - ASSIGNMENT OF STUDENTS TO CLASSES** **Last Updated Date:** 05/27/2014 **Adoption Date:** 01/10/2006 The classification and placement of students for instructional purposes is the prerogative and responsibility of the school. The sole purpose of careful classification and placement procedures is to place each student in classroom and group settings in which optimal learning will take place. It is the responsibility of the school to provide classrooms at every grade level that accommodate students with considerable diversity of interests and abilities. Each student should be encouraged to progress academically as he/she grows and develops socially and emotionally. Most students will require the normal allotted years of time to progress through elementary and secondary school. It is recognized, however, that it is sometimes necessary to make changes of placement with respect to "grade level." 1.         Among the factors to be considered when contemplating retention or acceleration are: achievement in relation to age, achievement in relation to individual potential, social relationship to present group and possible social relationship to new group, and parental support for the change in placement. 2.         Research results on achievement during a second year in the same grade under punitive retention policies have yielded rather dismal results. 3.         The decision to retain a student should be made early in the primary grades. Because of the irregularity of some pupils' patterns of growth and development, the progress of students who have been retained should be reviewed at the end of each school year. 4.         A decision to accelerate or retain should be arrived at on the basis of a common decision on the part of teachers, appropriate specialists, principal and hopefully, parents and student.  There is nothing within this policy that precludes school officials or the family from appealing decisions reached at the school level to the superintendent.  When such an appeal is made, the final decision on grade placement will rest with the superintendent. The placement of students in ability groups is the prerogative and responsibility of the school. However, as a student matures, he or she should become more and more involved in decisions related to his or her placement in educational programs. A student may be moved from one class to another for reasons such as social adjustment, change of grade placement or the availability of a more suitable educational program.