COVID-19 Alternative Learning Grading Guidance
Grades PreK – 8
- Elementary students’ trimester grade will not be lower than earned grade as of March 13, 2020.
- Middle school students will not receive grades for quint 4 or quint 5.
- The goal for the remainder of the school year is for students to maintain and sustain skills learned through March 13, as well as to be exposed to new learning that teachers feel are key learning targets related to the standards.
- There will be no grades given after March 13, 2020.
Grading Practices for Grades PreK-8:
The district’s philosophy for grading at the elementary and middle levels reflects an “Educational Enrichment” approach, which will result in students receiving materials that both support retaining prior knowledge as well as being exposed to new learning opportunities. Elementary teachers will support students through weekly communication and feedback. Report cards for the trimester will reflect feedback based on the work completed during the last trimester, which would have been during our Covid 19 closure, involving virtual learning. This feedback would represent a student’s individual growth, level of participation and possible summer learning recommendations.
Students at the middle level will be provided with opportunities to maintain prior knowledge and continue learning with new materials. Middle school teachers will support students through daily enrichment and educational opportunities, learning activities, and communication. The focus will continue to be on feedback in lieu of grades. Middle school report cards will be sent home at the conclusion of the school year. The report card will offer feedback in the form of grades for the first 3 quints and comments from student engagement and participation during the final 2 quints.
Grades 9 – 12
- Students will receive a credit, no evidence, or no credit grade for the second semester.
- Student’s letter grades for the 3rd quarter will not be lower than their earned grade as of March 13, 2020.
- Students were allowed to redo, re-take, or complete work assigned through March 13 to improve third-quarter grade. (Students were provided this opportunity through May 1.)
- Only letter grades will be used to determine honor roll and tie-breaking for scholarship determination based on grades assigned throughout a student’s cumulative high school experience, excluding the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year.
- An alternative educational plan will be implemented for students who receive a NO EVIDENCE grade due to complete lack of engagement in learning during the high school’s virtual instruction to receive course credit.
Grading Practices for Grades 9-12:
We will be utilizing a hybrid model for grading that will allow for a Credit / No Evidence / No Credit grade in place of the normal letter grade method for measuring and recording a student’s learning progress in a specific course, completed during the final semester of the 2019-20 school year. This method of grading accomplishes the following:
- Ensures a “Do No Harm” philosophy for our students. A student’s 3rd quarter grade (of Credit / No Credit) should not be lower than what it was as of Friday, March 13, 2020. Students should be allowed to make up missed work prior to March 13, 2020 to improve their grade.
- Allows for shared responsibility between parent/guardian and District.
- The Credit / No Credit grade will be utilized for the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year.
- Enables a student that was struggling prior to March 13, 2020 to bring their grade up.
- Students that do not engage in the educational learning opportunities provided to them will initially receive a “No Evidence” grade. This will stay in effect for —- weeks when if not addressed by the students will be replaced with a “No Credit” grade
- Semester II (2019-2020) grades will not be calculated into a student’s cumulative GPA.
- All courses that result in a grade of Credit will result in the awarding of high school credit as progress made towards graduation.
- Only letter grades will be counted toward honor roll status and for tie-breaking determination for scholarships, excluding the second semester of the 2019-2020 school year.
- Dual credit courses, college-credit courses, and transcribed courses would be conducted and graded as per the policies of the post-secondary institution.
Advanced Placement (AP):
- For the 2019–20 exam only, students can take a 45-minute online free-response exam at home. Since some students have lost more instructional time than others, the exam will include only topics and skills most AP teachers and students covered in class through March 13. Please use this link to access free exam practice courses offered by AP on YouTube: https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/coronavirus-updates#free-ap-classes.
- Colleges support the shortened test solution and are committed to ensuring that AP students receive the credit they have worked to earn. Students will be able to take these streamlined exams on any device including a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Submitting a photo of handwritten work will also be an option. The College Board recognizes that the digital divide could prevent some low-income and rural students from participating. Working with partners, the College Board will ensure that these students have the tools and connectivity they need to review AP content online and take the exam. If students need mobile tools or connectivity, they should reach out directly to the College Board to request assistance by completing the form at https://collegeboard.tfaforms.net/74. This general website gives additional updated information on the changes discussed in this document https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/about-ap/news-changes/coronavirus-update.
Students with IEP’s or 504 Plans in the District
- Students will be provided appropriate resources and accommodations in the virtual learning or alternative learning setting through collaboration between classroom teacher, special education teacher, support staff member, the student, and parents/guardians.
- Additionally, classroom teachers, special education teachers ,support staff, the student, and parents/guardians will consider, as necessary, alternative methods to measure whether a student has met or exceeded minimum proficiency standards.
- If changes need to be made to supports or accommodations in a virtual or alternative learning setting, an IEP or 504 meeting can be scheduled to make necessary changes to support skill demonstration for a student.
- Student IEP goals will be assessed at the end of the current school year and upon the start of the following school year, which does not affect grades.