Administrators announced several changes to the grading system at the August board meeting: |
1. Each course will have a syllabus that lists the assignments a student must complete or pass in order to earn credit.
2. Students who do not complete or pass certain assignments can receive an "incomplete" or even a failing grade, regardless of the grade showing in Skyward. |
Sadly, these changes only make the problem worse.
Students in Honors Chemistry are expected to pass every exam in order to earn credit. Under this new policy, it is possible for a student with an "A" in honors chemistry to receive a failing grade. (Click here to see a student who had an "A" average, but failed the class.) If student fails even one test, his teacher has been instructed to override the "A" and replace it with and "incomplete" for the semester. If the student does not retake and pass the test within 6 weeks of the end of the semester, he will receive a failing grade.
According to the course syllabus, students in CORE Biology are only expected to take the exams, but they do not need to pass them. Click here to see an example of a student who passed Biology but failed every test , including the final exam.
According to the course syllabus, students in CORE Biology are only expected to take the exams, but they do not need to pass them. Click here to see an example of a student who passed Biology but failed every test , including the final exam.
It does not make sense to award "incomplete" grades for the semester.
According to the new policy in the course syllabus, students have six weeks AFTER the semester ends to re-do or complete any course requirements. For example, a student who missed a test in January may be allowed to take that test in late September of the following school year. Why should a teacher be expected to grade an assignment that is 10 months late?