FAQs for Policy 608: Grading and Reporting

1. Why can’t recovered grades earn a grade higher than 50? Does this not hurt
student motivation?

The purpose of this portion of the policy is to provide a safety net for
students. It is for a student who does little or no work during the six
weeks and receives a very low grade or zero but who may be willing to
work with encouragement to bring the grade up to a point where it won’t
make it numerically impossible to pass the class for the year. It will
require some explaining to the student so that he will see the value of
working to recover the grades.

2. If a student is given an opportunity to make up a failing grade during the six

weeks, is 50 the highest grade the student can earn on the make up grade?

The “recovered grades” portion of the policy only applies to grades made
up after the six weeks averages have been turned in and officially
recorded. The value of a grade recovered due to illness or absence
during the six weeks by making up an assignment or test is up to the
teacher and can be higher than 50.

3. If a student is not able to complete the six weeks work due to illness, school
trips, etc., does that mean the work the student completes after the six weeks is
over can only be given a 50?

If a student is not able to make up work due to legitimate reasons, he

should be given an incomplete and allowed to make up the work as usual.
The recovered grades portion of the grading policy would not apply to
this situation.

4. Does this mean teachers have to create two different tests and assignments so
that students can retake tests and redo all assignments?

The way the grades are recovered is up to the teacher. A student could
be required to redo the exact assignments and tests, but a better option
might be for the student to demonstrate mastery in another way. The
alternate assignment would be determined by the teacher, but the
teacher might want to ask the student for input on the design of the
assignment..

5. Is everyone required to have at least 10 grades?

If a student will not have at least 10 grades in a six weeks, principal

approval is required. An assignment may have more than one grade. For
example, a senior English teacher may assign an extensive research
paper for a six weeks. Included in this assignment, there will be many
grades given such as a grade for resources, another for notes taken,
another for a draft and revision, etc. Even though there is only one
assignment, there may be many grades within the assignment.

6. Does everyone need to give a six weeks test?

Secondary teachers are required to give six weeks tests. However, for
some classes a six weeks test is not feasible. Principals may approve an
exception to this requirement.

7. Can the semester exam also be a six weeks test?

For the third and sixth six week periods, a six weeks test is optional. The
semester test cannot count as both the six weeks test and the semester
test.