Holyoke Public Schools has adopted new procedures to help ensure students are prepared to advance to subsequent grade levels for the following school year.
“We know that students get the most from their learning experiences when they are in class on time every day ready to learn,” said HPS Superintendent Anthony Soto. “We also know that sometimes illnesses and emergencies will arise that can interfere with consistent strong attendance—and we have processes and protocols in place to support students and their families under those circumstances so that students can catch up on the work they have missed.”
Students with many absences miss critical learning time that often cannot be recovered in the same school year, said HPS Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Family Engagement Steven Moguel. “These absences can leave students unprepared to be successful in the next grade level without additional time to recover lost learning.”
To help address a cycle of poor attendance and lost learning opportunities, the 20-member Attendance Task Force, composed of community partners and school-based staff, developed retention procedures that are tied to student attendance and academic achievement at their current grade levels. This approach is consistent with School Committee policy, which places final authority for making a student retention decision with the school principal. The district’s new retention procedures for students in grades 1-8 are fully explained in a guidance document provided in English and Spanish.
Please note: The No Credit Awarded (NCA procedure) has been in place at Holyoke High School North and Dean Campuses since December 2022 and can be found in the Family and Student handbook.
For the coming school year, schools will factor in both a student’s attendance record and their academic achievement levels to determine whether that student is sufficiently prepared to advance to the next grade level for the subsequent school year. If lagging attendance has interfered with the student’s academic performance, the school may decide to retain the student in their current grade level for another year. This additional time on the same course material should, in the long run, better prepare students for success in school and beyond.
A retention decision for students in grades 1-8 would be made after following a process. Students in grades 1-8 who have been absent for 20% or more of the school year and who are not showing sufficient educational achievement and growth could be assigned to repeat their current grade level (or “retained”) for the following school year. If a principal decides retention is in the best interests of a student, the principal will share that determination with the HPS Retention Committee BEFORE any decision is finalized and shared with family. Please also note that students will not be retained more than once while they are in grades 1-8, including if they were retained in a previous district/school or if they were retained for non-academic reasons.
“There is a lot to read and understand here, so families are encouraged to reach out to their school
Family and Community Engagement (FACE) team members for more information and support,” said Superintendent Soto. “Thank you for your continued partnership as we work together to ensure that our students develop the skills and access the opportunities they need to graduate high school prepared for life, career, and college.”