Wyoming County Schools board adopts Promotion and Retention policy updates to implement West Virginia's Third Grade Success Act

The Wyoming County Board of Education approved revisions to Policy 5410 at its board meeting to align local promotion and retention rules with West Virginia House Bill 3035, commonly called the Third Grade Success Act. The updates define local procedures, an Academic Improvement Mission (AIM) process, and timelines for third-grade retention decisions.

A staff presenter summarized the principal changes and read key elements of the state-driven requirements, saying, "Beginning July 1, 2026, third grade students who demonstrate a minimal understanding on the West Virginia General Summative Assessment shall, upon recommendation of the classroom teacher, the student assistance team, and the individualized education program team if applicable, be retained." The presenter noted the policy also lists eight state exemptions the team must consider before recommending retention.

The revisions add county-level terminology and guidance: AIM (Academic Improvement Mission) is the district's local name for the improvement plan and process tied to benchmark assessments; the policy clarifies that alternate assessments are the state-approved tests for students with significant cognitive disabilities; and "extended learning" is defined to include summer or after-school literacy and numeracy programs the county must offer (participation is optional for students).

Board members asked about parental notification and how schools will prevent preemptive panic among families. The presenter and curriculum staff said AIM facilitators at each school will hold regular parent meetings after benchmark administrations, and that the district will rely on Title I parent events and other family outreach to explain supports and exemptions.

The board moved and approved the policy updates as presented. The adopted language also includes a clause that state guidance and code will supersede portions of the local policy if state law changes.

Authorities referenced in the discussion included West Virginia House Bill 3035 (Third Grade Success Act). The board did not change the state-defined exemptions in the text; the presenter said those exemptions are listed generically as exemption one, two, three, etc., in the material the district received from the state.

Next steps noted by staff include continuing AIM training for school leaders and notifying families of procedural timelines; staff said they will return with implementation details and parent-education plans as the policy is operationalized.