Sumner High School
Grading Policy Change FAQ Sheet
What are the changes?
- To stop awarding course credit for a D grade
- To change the D mark to NTY to reflect the student’s “approaching standard” or “not there yet” status
- To stop using an F before course end because it gives students a reason to give up prematurely
- To use an I (evidence of learning is “incomplete”) for those students whose performance is far below standard
- To reduce the .5 credit epidemic by giving students the full year to earn credit in a year long course by using NC (No Credit) at semester rather than F if the student is not meeting standard at semester
Why make this change?
Reason 1) To more clearly communicate how a student is performing and the reasons for that performance
Reason 2) Because F and D grades negatively impact student motivation. We want to send the message of hope to struggling students (rather than labeling them) while maintaining high standards. The research on academic motivation is clear that low grades do not work as motivators: they give students reasons to quit rather than reasons to persist (Guskey 2001, O’Connor 2002 & 2007, Marzano 2000, Stiggins 2001 & 2007, Willis 2006, Wormeli 2006)
Reason 3) To align classroom credit earning expectations with WASL pass standards (why should we have lower standards for awarding course credit than the state does for awarding a certificate of academic achievement?) Both the individual student and the community are better served when our school maintains rigorous learning expectations.
What’s the precedent? Where else is this being done?
Both Franklin Pierce SD and Federal Way SD have not awarded credit for a D grade for 10+ years. After having spoken with Mark Davidson of FW and Jim Ridgeway of FP it is clear that this policy change is just how they do business in these districts and that students have raised their level of performance to meet the raised expectations.
What will happen as a result of these changes?
“Won’t we see a spike in our failure rates because the kids who used to earn Ds will just give up?” We predict a spike in the number of C grades earned. Most students earning Ds want the credit, but they’ve been able to “game the system” by earning credit for the absolute minimum amount of effort possible and, consequently, passing the course without any demonstrable skills. Without a D, they will still likely want the credit and now they will be forced to actually do the work, and learn the skills, necessary to earn it. We also predict increases in course end grade changes and decreases in the percentage of students in credit-deficient situations.
What about safety nets for struggling students?
1) During the school day interventions: trained peer tutors in 9th grade classes, Learning Lab time, credit recovery classes in core academic areas, in-class test re-take opportunities, test make-up, re-take, and re-teaching opportunities every other Friday during advisory period.
2) After school interventions: Math, English, and Science help two days a week (students or parents will need to provide transportation)
3) Extended time options: students with NTY status at semester in year long courses may qualify for extended time and have until the course ends in June to demonstrate competence in ALL course skills and thus convert an NC at semester to a letter grade and earn an entire 1.0 credit.
All of these changes have been made in the interest of doing what is best for students in order to prepare them for success in life after high school.
Grading Scale
Evaluating Grading Practices  |
