Posted 3/5/03
The main item on the business agenda was MCPS' proposed changes to the current Grading and reporting policy. The school board will be voting on this March 24th. Unfortunately, however, there was very little time allocated to an item by item discussion of the changes that MCPS is recommending, and MCCPTA's position on each item, because of the lengthy program which preceded the discussion. Following are the recommendations that were passed by the delegates assembly that affect high school students:
1. Interims:. MCCPTA supports sending interim reports to all middle and high school students who are in danger of failing or dropping more than l letter grade during the nine weeks, but would like to see stronger language encouraging or requiring progress reports for all students at least twice a quarter.
2. Attendance. Currently there is a loss of credit after 5 unexcused absences in high school. MCPS is recommending that attendance "should have no direct effect on student grades" and that attendance should be part of a separate attendance policy. MCCPTA voted as follows (quoting from the "MCCPTA Ad Hoc Grading and Reporting Committee recommendations " ):
"Agree, but strongly advocate that loss of credit policy remain in effect until a new attendance policy has been drafted and implemented that is separate from the grading and reporting policy"
3. Weight of final exam. MCPS proposes changing the weight from 25% to 30%. MCCPTA voted to disagree with this policy- "with current curriculum and county standardized exams and inconsistent level of instruction throughout county high schools there are too many problems to be addressed before this change could be considered and not be punitive to all students."
4. Credit for high school courses taken in middle school. Currently students must pass an exam and successfully complete next course in high school, and then they have the option to include credit and grade on transcript and in GPA calculation. MCPS is proposing that students taking high school level courses receive high school credit upon passage of the course/final exam, and that credit will automatically appear on transcripts and be included in the GPA calculation. MCCPTA voted to recommend that the option should be left open to students whether grades should be included on h.s. transcripts.
5. Plus-minus. Currently not used. MCPS recommends continuing current policy. MCCPTA voted to agree with MCPS recommendation, but that when new grading and reporting software is developed or implemented that the use of plus and minus be considered.
Timeframe for implementing changes: MCPS is recommending that these changes be implemented in 2003-04. MCCPTA disagrees, and instead supports implementing in 04-05 to allow more time to resolve ongoing curriculum and assessment problems and to pilot a new elementary report card.
The public comment period ends March 18, 2003. For more details see the MCPS web site http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/info/grading/. The community forum originally scheduled for March 20 at Wootton has been rescheduled for this Thursday at 7:30