Building a Complete School Retention Form

Building a Complete School Retention Form Student retention is always highly debated. There are clear-cut pros and cons that teachers and parents must take into consideration when making such an important decision. Teachers and parents should work together to come up with a consensus as to whether or not retention is the right decision for a particular student. Retention will not work for every student.   You must have strong parental support and an individualized academic plan that promotes an alternative to how that student is taught as compared to previous years. Each retention decision should be made on an individual basis. No two students are alike, thus retention must be examined taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of each individual student.   Teachers and parents must examine a wide array of factors before deciding whether or not retention is the right decision.   Once a retention decision has been made, it is important to explore how the students individual needs are going to be met at a deeper level than before. If the decision is made to retain, it is important that you adhere to all guidelines laid out in the districts retention policy. If you have a retention policy, it is equally important that you have a retention form that gives a brief description of the reasons the teacher believes the student should be retained. The form should also provide a place for to sign and then either agree or disagree with the teachers placement decision. The retention form should summarize placement concerns. However, teachers are strongly encouraged to add additional documentation to support their decision including work samples, test scores, teacher notes, etc. Sample Retention Form The primary goal of Any Where Public Schools is to educate and prepare our students for a brighter tomorrow. We know that each child develops physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially at an individual rate. Additionally, not all children will complete twelve grades levels of work according to the same pace and at the same time. Grade level placement will be based on the child’s maturity (emotional, social, mental and physical), chronological age, school attendance, effort, and marks achieved. Standardized testing results can be used as one means of the judging process. The grade marks earned, direct observations made by the teacher, and academic progress made by the student throughout the year shall reflect the probable assignment for the coming year. Students Name _____________________________ Date of Birth _____/_____/_____ Age _____ _____________________ (Student Name) is recommended to be placed in __________ (Grade) for the _________________ school year. Conference Date ___________________________________ Reason(s) for Recommendation of Placement by Teacher: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Outline of Strategic Plan for Addressing Deficiencies During Retention Year: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____ See attachment for additional information _____ I accept the placement of my child. _____ I do not accept the school’s placement of my child. I understand that I may appeal this decision by complying with the school district’s appeal process. Parent Signature____________________________ Date ______________ Teacher Signature __________________________ Date ______________

How to Write a Business Report with Skill and Ease

How to Write a Business Report with Skill and Ease Dorothy Park once said, "I hate writing. I love having written." You might feel the same way, but unfortunately, you can't get one without doing the other. The pressure is even higher if you're writing a business report. The deadline is tight, facts and figures need to be found and checked, and everything has to fit into a format that helps your reader understand complex information easily. And, decisions will be made based on this business report. It's enough to make you scratch your head wondering where to start. Here is the secret: focus on planning thoroughly before you start writing. In our report writing course, we emphasize that 50% of the work of a business report focuses on planning. If you're not sure how to write a business report, follow these important steps and the process will be easier, faster, and more successful. Organize Your Thoughts Most business reports involve a combination of past developments, upcoming trends, and predictions and recommendations. But the information you present has to have a logical sequence that makes it easier for readers to follow. A typical business report starts with a main theme, followed by a series of insights to support it, and ends with a conclusion. Many reports will also include an executive summary, a series of recommendations or next steps, and maybe a list of key takeaways and highlights. The best way to start your report is to outline or concept map how you want to present the information. If you already know the theme, gather the facts that supports it and list it in order of importance, and tier supporting information. Or maybe you have the information you need, but don't know how to assemble it. In either case, people who know how to write a business report know that organization is the first step to writing. Do Your Research Business Writers who already have much knowledge or data are lucky - they've shortened their research time considerably. But, most writers are responsible for finding their own facts and analyzing them. In a business report, never start with an assumption. A business report needs to be based entirely upon the facts, findings and data - not a preconceived expectation or recommendation. Research always drives findings. The more sources to choose from, the better. Company documents can provide information about corporate activities, while industry research is a great source for information on the trends and challenges expected to impact your company and its competitors. Online publications and other sources can provide insight on how certain world events will impact the business climate. The more information you have, the easier it is to create a narrative for your business report. Don't forget to cite your sources; readers want to know where this important data came from and it lends credibility to your work. Use Clear, Simple Language Those who know how to write a business report know that the best explanation is a clear and simple one. Beginning writers tend to use jargon, long words, and complex sentences to make their point. In the end, their readers get bored, and their point gets lost. Your goal is to explain the business climate and opportunity, not win a poetry contest. Business writing is about presenting straightforward facts, so use straightforward language: Use simple words and phrases. If readers have to use a thesaurus to understand you, they won't keep reading. Avoid jargon from your company. Not everyone is an insider, but they still need to understand your concepts. Break up your text into smaller sentences and paragraphs. Frequent pauses keep readers interested. Use headers and subheaders to organize the text by main ideas. The outline or concept map you created in Step 1 is a good starting point. It's okay if you don't yet know how to write a business report - everyone has to start somewhere. But before you start, take time to think about what you want to say and find a clear, organized way to say it. If business report writing is a job requirement, consider a business report writing course.