Davis outlines policy for remediation plans

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Emery High Principal Larry Davis presented an Academic Probation and Remediation Plan to the Emery school board. Principal Davis explained that Emery High needs a plan to address probation and remediation. He developed this plan with input from the faculty and community council. It is also modeled on the plan he used at Canyon View Junior High School. Superintendant Kirk Sitterud explained that approval of the plan would also require approval to change the fee schedule to include fees for remediation. Members of the Board asked questions to clarify aspects of the plan and Principal Davis responded to these questions.
The probation and remediation plan goes into effect at the end of a term when a student fails one or more core classes. The student will be allowed a one-week grace period. If the student can remediate any failed core classes within the grace period, there will be no fees assessed and no probationary status.
The teacher gives the student necessary work to bring the grade up to passing. The student has one calendar week from the end of the term to complete the work. The work must meet quality standards for a passing grade D- or higher. If completed successfully there will be no remediation paperwork, teacher compensation or fee assessment. The teacher makes the grade change. If the student fails to complete the grace period requirements it will result in automatic remediation/probation referral.
When a student goes into remediation/probation the teachers will provide the remediation work and the teachers, counselor and principal will follow up.
Automatic placement in academic probation includes: a minimum five school day probation period; minimum two after school classes; suspension from all activities, field trips, sports; etc. The required completion of remediation within a two week period; teachers have the option of extending the deadline.
Remediation will include the following fees: $15 per class for the first week; $30 per class beyond the first week. All fees must be paid before grade/credit changes are made. Fees go to teachers for payment of work beyond contract. The necessary grade change paperwork is to be filed with the counselor.
Additional remediation recommendations include: After school class supervisors need to have remediation lists so they can make sure that students in the class are working on their remediation packets. While it is currently required that a student remediating bring a core class grade up to at least a D-, future requirements should raise this standard to at least a C.
Teachers have the option of giving students an I grade rather than an F grade which would result in a contract with student and teacher regarding what work needs to be completed and by what deadline.
I grades should be considered the same as F grades when it comes to academic probation. This will assure that the student is getting to after-school class, focusing on getting a passing grade and avoiding preoccupation with school activities. Students who are on academic probation because of I grades, however, will be off as soon as the I is made-up.
Individual time spent with teachers getting help with remediation should count as an after-school class although the time must be at least one hour for one homework class.
Academic probation should include the same penalties as citizenship probation when it comes to precluding students from attending or participating in school-sponsored activities. Teachers need to actively communicate with parents, as well as students, at the first signs of academic problems. Phone calls, letters, meetings, staffings, email, SIS are encouraged.
The school needs to create tutoring programs using volunteers where possible and appropriate. Teachers need to make themselves available to students before and after school where possible. The best solution to remediation problems is to do all that we can at every level to assure that students pass classes, thus avoiding the necessity of remediation.
A student will not be removed from academic probation until the following conditions are met: all remediation is completed, teachers have submitted the appropriate grade change paperwork and passing grades are recorded on SIS; the student has been on academic probation for a minimum of five school days; the student has attended a minimum of two after-school academic assistance classes; and the student is passing all classes and has been approved for removal by all of their teachers.
Eligibility for athletics, clubs, organizations, etc. will be determined by the same rule used by the Utah High School Athletics Association. Students become ineligible if they have two or more Fs at the end of a grading period and/or if their term GPA is below a 2.0, or by team or organization policy, whichever is more restrictive. However, if a student goes into remediation/probation, the student will be precluded from participation, until all requirements for removal from probation status are met.
Students who have less than a 40 percent average in core classes at the end of a grading period will not be allowed to remediate by doing make-up work. They may however, apply for a credit recovery program or retake the class.
The principal will supervise the academic probation and remediation plan. They will update the probation/remediation spread sheet. The spread sheet will be reviewed and updated in faculty meetings. Only the principal can remove a student from academic probation. The new academic and remediation plan goes into effect for the third term which began on Jan. 12.