4710

GRADING SYSTEMS

The Board of Education recognizes that the classroom teacher has the primary responsibility to evaluate students and determine student grades. Grading is considered a positive tool to indicate achievement and development in each class or subject area in which a student is enrolled.

The assessment process is critical to the educational program. Classroom teachers will evaluate students and assign grades according to the system established in the regulation accompanying this policy. Within a few days after all tests, all students will receive a copy of the questions and the answers and scores, and the tests will be reviewed by the teachers with the students (final exams excluded).

Teachers shall use multiple assessment methods such as teacher-made tests, samples of student work, mastery skills checklists, criterion-referenced tests and norm-referenced tests to afford students frequent feedback on their academic progress and to offer students sufficient opportunity to demonstrate proficiency in the subject area.

It is to be recognized that a student is an individual with his/her own abilities and capabilities. It is also recognized that an individual is part of a society which is achievement‑oriented and competitive in nature. Hence, when a student’s achievement is evaluated, attention should be given to his/her unique characteristics and to accepted standards of performance in the educational setting.

All students are expected to complete the assigned class work and homework as directed. Students are also expected to participate meaningfully in class discussions and activities in order to receive course credit. If work is missed due to absence, the student is expected to make up the work. The student and/or the student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) should discuss with the student’s teacher an appropriate means of making up the missed work. With the possible exception of absences intended by the student as a means of gaining an unfair academic advantage (e.g., to secure more time to study for a test), every effort will be made to provide students with the opportunity and assistance to make up all work missed as a result of absence from class (see 4760, Makeup Opportunities).

The following guidelines will be observed:

1. Students and their parents will be provided with information regarding classroom attendance/participation and course credit policies upon their admission to school and at the beginning of the school year.

2. Parents are to be informed regularly, at least four (4) times a year, of their child’s progress.

3. The use of marks and symbols will be appropriately explained.

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4. Grading will not be used for disciplinary purposes, i.e., giving lower grades for excused absences, as opposed to giving lower grades for failure to complete assigned work or for lack of class participation. However, a student’s misconduct that is directly related to his/her academic performance (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on a test, avoiding an exam to secure more time to study, truancy), may be reflected in the students grade.

5. Grading will be based, in part, upon student improvement, achievement, and participation in classroom discussions and activities.

6. A grade for classroom attendance/participation will account for part of the student’s overall grade in each class. Classroom work missed due to absences from class and the failure to make up the work missed, will be factored into the grade in accordance with this policy. Procedures for the make up of work missed due to any absences from class will be directed in policy 4760, Makeup Opportunities.

7. Absences due to attendance at school‑sponsored functions or programs that are directly related to the class work missed as a result of such absence, shall not be counted as an absence but classwork must be completed as soon as possible.

8. Any student in grades 7-12 may be removed from a full year or half year course when they have exceeded the acceptable number of absences (10 in a half year; 20 in a full year) and he/she obtains an accumulative class average below the passing mark (of 65 percent). That student will be dropped from the course and removed from the class. They will not take any regents exam or final exam associated with the course.

a. After being absent for fifteen (15) class periods in a year-long course or seven (7) class periods in a semester course, students and their parent(s) will be notified by phone and mail that the student is in danger of not receiving credit for such course(s) if they have further absences that exceed the limit and have an accumulative course average below 65 percent; and

b. After being absent for twenty (20) class periods in a year-long course or ten (10) class periods in a semester course, with an accumulative course average of below 65 percent, students and their parent(s) or guardian(s) will be notified by phone and mail that the student will be removed form the course(s) and will lose credit for such course(s). The student will receive their failing final mark for the course.

Notifications mentioned in a and b above will be sent by the Guidance Office after consultation with the teacher, attendance officer and the Principal.

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Accordance to the Commissioner’s Decision, any student who maintains an accumulative average above passing (65 percent minimum) will be allowed to remain in the course despite exceeding the number of allowable absences. If that student’s average falls below 65 percent at any time later during the course they will be removed from the course and receive no credit. They will receive a failing final mark at that time.

For the purpose of implementing this policy, every day a student receives homebound instruction by a school appointed tutor will not count as an absence.

The professional judgment of the teacher should be respected. Once a grade is assigned to a student by a teacher, the grade may only be changed by a district administrator after notification to the teacher of the reason for such change. Should an administrator enforce a grade change, he/she shall be prepared to report to the Superintendent and/or the Board.

Cross-ref: 4327, Homebound Instruction

4712, Student Progress Reports to Parents

4760, Makeup Opportunities

5100, Student Attendance

5160, Student Absences and Excuses

Ref: Education Law ''3202; 3205 et seq.

Matter of Ackert, 30 EDR 31 (1990)

Matter of Augustine, 30 EDR 13 (1990)

Matter of Boylan, 24 EDR 421 (1985)

Matter of Burns, 29 EDR 103 (1989)

Matter of Chipman, 10 EDR 224 (1971)

Matter of Dickershaid, 26 EDR 112 (1986)

Matter of Fitchett‑Delk, 25 EDR 178 (1985)

Matter of Gibbons, 22 EDR 134 (1982)

Matter of LaViolette, 24 EDR 37 (1984)

Matter of MacWhinnie, 20 EDR 145 (1980)

Matter of McClurkin, 28 EDR 136 (1988)

Matter of Reid, 65 Misc 2d 718 (1971)

Matter of Rivers, 27 EDR 73 (1987)

Matter of Shamon, 22 EDR 428 (1983)

Adoption date: November 19, 1997