September 7, 2021
Dear Texas Leadership Family and Friends:
As we enter the 2021-2022 school year, we want to bring Senate Bill 1697 to your attention, which was recently passed by the 87th Texas Legislature. This bill gives parents the ability to decide if they would like a child to repeat a course or an entire grade level based on their child’s particular circumstances.
This consideration is of particular significance to those families who had an eligible kindergartener for the 2020-2021 school year, but did not enroll them, or believe their child’s kindergarten experience was not sufficient. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has offered this helpful resource for those parents who may be considering Restarting Kindergarten.
Senate Bill 1697 also creates an avenue for families with older children, who believe their child would benefit from repeating an entire grade level or a single course. Please refer to TEA’s guidance on Repeating a Grade/Course.
These decisions must be made as soon as possible, and families must inform your campus principal in writing by September 14, 2021. This ensures that we will be able to properly discuss with each student’s family whether the student should be retained in a grade or repeat a course. We may need to convene a Retention Committee including the following individuals:
- The Principal (or designee),
- The student’s parent or guardian,
- The teacher who taught the grade or course for which the parent wants the student to retake or be retained,
- And any additional teachers (at the discretion of the Principal, if the student will repeat multiple courses).
Finally, for students in grade 4 and above, this retention option exists only for the 2021-2022 school year. For students from Pre-Kindergarten through grade 3, the retention option is permanent.
It is our intent to collaborate and work with families who have these concerns, so we can ensure their children receive the best education possible, especially in light of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19. You will find more information on Senate Bill 1697 at Senate Bill 1697 FAQ.
Please feel free to reach out to your campus principal or Shakeah Hoffman ([email protected]) should you have any further questions about this process.
Thank you,
Shakeah Hoffman
District Director of Academics