If a student with a disability does not meet proficiency standards for promotion at grade 3 by the end of the first year of retention, the Individualized Education Program Team, including the principal, shall determine promotion or retention of the student. If a student with a disability does not meet proficiency standards for promotion at grade 5 by the end of the first year of retention, the Individualized Education Program Team, including the principal, shall determine promotion or retention of the student. If a student does not meet proficiency standards for promotion at grade 8 and has already been retained two or more times, the Individualized Education Program Team, including the principal, shall determine promotion or retention. Students above grade eight, unless exempted by the Individualized Education Program Team, shall participate in state-mandated promotion requirements. If a student does not meet proficiency expected of students by the end of grade twelve and has already been retained two or more times, the Individualized Education Program Team, including the principal, shall determine graduation or retention.
All services offered are in addition to the special education services provided to the student.
Advocates for students with disabilities are extremely concerned about this proposal and are working to educate the State Superintendent and Board of Education about the possible negative impact. The policy, as currently written, requires students to be retained before the IEP Team can decide what is in the best interest of the child. Most advocates for students with disabilities, including ECAC, feel that the IEP team should have the authority to make that decision before and without retaining the child. The Learning Disabilities Association of North Carolina is working closely with the other disability organizations and is taking the lead in this effort. But the disability organizations cannot do this alone.