September 16, 1999

Iowa school districts set pass/fail requirements for students

Bertha Cerda
digital•iowa staff reporter
Drake University

DES MOINES, Iowa-- The education requirements in Iowa are unlike those in states such as Texas and California.

For example, in Texas schools cannot keep school children in the same grade level for more than one year. Robert Wills, bureau chief of the administration and school improvement services for Iowa, said, "In the state of Iowa we don't have such a requirement that they can't stay in the same grade. It could vary from school district to school district."

Although the possibility of school children being held back is possible for all, it is more common for a few specific grade levels. "It is more common for students in kindergarten, first and second grade to be held back," Wills said.

There are a variety of issues why students may be held back in these early years. Wills said sometimes it is because they are "slow in the beginning process of learning." However, these school children don't get held back because the state says so but by the decision of the school district they are in.

"School districts take it very seriously whether to retain or promote," Wills said. "Some school districts have the parents decide."

One reason why students may not get promoted is if the school district, the school and in some cases even the parents don't think that the child is ready for the next level. Another reason is that some parents don't think that their child is mature enough to advance. Wills said some parents request that their child be retained if he is showing signs of immaturity. "Educational success is what schools are mainly concerned about," Wills said.

State testing is another difference between the Iowa school districts and the school districts of bigger states. Children don't need to take a state test to get promoted. "There's nothing magical about test scores," Wills said.

For students to be held back, "teacher and parent judgment, scores classroom are all equally considered," Will said. "The community themselves will hold high expectations for their students."

Students in Iowa may not be required to take tests to get promoted, but they do get tests administered to them. "All students in the state of Iowa have to have some type of test administered to compare the state to the nation," Wills said. About 90 to 95 percent of the students take these tests - normally the Iowa Test of Basic Skills or the Iowa Test of Educational Development.

Wills said other schools may give other tests. "There are school districts that give the California tests," Wills said. These decision are made by what Wills calls "local control." The school boards and the school districts, along with the community, make these decisions.

There is no such thing as state programming for students who need extra help in school. "Parent, counselor, teachers, special educators are in charge if programming is needed," Wills said.

"There will be summer school programs that school districts design," Wills said.

The individual school districts design programs to meet their needs. Another decision that the school districts make is what books to use for their district. Wills said that is why there are a variety of programs and textbooks being used throughout Iowa.

The way education of children is going now appears to be working in Iowa. "We always do real well compared to those in the nation," Wills said.