Ask an Expert: Jim Cox and Pat Puleo

Ask an Expert: Jim Cox and Pat Puleo
Measuring Up: A Parent's Guide to Testing, Grades, and Assessments

My daughter's SAT-9 scores are low and her 5th grade class was not so good. They want to hold her back, but at the 7th grade. I think that's too late. Is there anything I can do to stop this and move her up?

The law changed in California last year. It says that parents should be informed very early in the school year that your child was at risk of retention. If you were, you would have been offered some special classes after school, on weekends, or during the summer that she could have taken. It is the school's responsibility to offer her a chance to improve her skills. Did she attend those classes? If she did not attend, she probably is still having trouble with the skills that identified her at risk in September. The hope is to identify children who are struggling and provide the help they need during the year.

You may appeal the decision of the teacher to retain her, but the final decision will be with the superintendent who will hear your appeal. If she was not given the opportunity to go to remedial programs, they may not retain her. You can ask for a copy of the policy and your district's regulations about retention. That will explain what process should have been followed and what your rights are.

TOP OF PAGE | BACK TO ARCHIVE INDEX