Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School of Coventry Grading Policy

Transcription

1 1 Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle Schl f Cventry Grading Plicy Definitin: Standards Based Grading Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle Schl f Cventry utilizes standards-based educatinal practices. In this type f system, grading and grade reprting indicate what a student has learned and is able t d relative t the cntent standards. Purpse The purpse f grading is t describe a student s learning regarding hw well he/she has achieved prficiency in the adpted cntent standards indicated by the cntent strands. Wrk ethic, hmewrk, and ther behavirs are indicated separately by the learner quality standards. It is intended t infrm parents and students abut learning successes, academic prgress, and t identify areas f imprvement. Guiding Beliefs 1. The reprting f a student s academic prgress and achievement must be multifaceted, cmprehensive, and varied, incrprating much mre than an interim prgress reprt r an end f marking perid reprt card. 2. An assessment f a student s perfrmance shuld reflect his/her authentic learning (Prduct), wrk ethic skills (Prcess) and academic prgress (Prgress). 3. Wrk ethic, hmewrk, behavir, attendance, timeliness, and ther skills/qualities are integral t the learning prcess yet need t be distinguished frm the reprting f authentic learning and academic prgress. Such qualities are best cnsidered as learner qualities. 4. Assigned wrk that is late r missing, when incrprated int a student s grade, negatively impacts that reprt card grade and delivers an inauthentic and false assessment f the student s learning and what he/she is able t d. 5. Frmative assessments shuld be cnsidered strng supprts t bth learning and teaching. They assist teachers in recgnizing deficits in student learning, guide remedial and/r further instructin, and shuld nt be heavily weighted in the trimester grade reprting. 6. Assessments shuld align with the adpted cntent standards. Summative assessments may be a better means f gathering an authentic evaluatin f a student s learning. 7. A grade f a 0 (zer) unjustly skews a student s summative grade. Therefre, a student shuld have multiple pprtunities t demnstrate what he/she knws and is able t d.

2 2 8. Students shuld have the pprtunity fr retaking assessments withut penalty in their cntent grade. 9. A student s learning is a shared respnsibility between students, teachers, administratrs, and parents. 10. This plicy creates cnsistency in grading practices, specifically prviding an equitable pprtunity fr all students. Plicy 1. T insure that student learning is measured and reprted in a mre authentic manner, teachers will grade separately n Prduct, Prcess, and Prgress. Prduct (Cntent strands) relates t students specific achievements r levels f perfrmance. They describe what a student knws and is able t d at a particular pint in time relative t the standards addressed fr the trimester. Prduct Grade Explanatin f Prduct Grade 4 Student wrk exceeds expectatins fr this trimester. 3 Student wrk meets expectatins fr this trimester. 2 Student wrk appraches but des nt meet expectatins fr this trimester. 1 Student wrk is significantly belw expectatins fr this trimester. IE NA Insufficient Evidence - Student did nt prvide sufficient evidence t assess student prficiency. Nt assessed during this trimester. Prcess (Learner Quality strands) relates t hw a student gt t the level f perfrmance; the effrt and wrk habits students demnstrate. The fllwing learner qualities will receive a Prcess grade: Prepared fr class Participates in class Submits hmewrk n time Submits wrk n time Wrks well with thers These learner qualities receive a Prcess grade as fllws:

3 3 Prcess Grade Explanatin f Prcess Grade 4 Always 3 Usually 2 Smetimes 1 Rarely Prgress relates t hw much mvement an individual student has made twards the trimester expectatins. Mvement is based n a student s gain frm pre-assessment t summative assessment. Prgress infrmatin is reprted t parents by the use f narrative cmment(s) n the reprt card. 2. A minimum f three assessment pprtunities are required t cnstitute a Prduct strand grade. 3. If there is insufficient evidence t assess student prficiency fr a Prduct grade, a grade f IE (Insufficient Evidence) will be assigned. The teacher will ntify parents f a student receiving an IE grade as sn as pssible, but n later than the clse f trimester (fr reprt cards) r mid-trimester date (fr prgress reprts.) a) Prgressive supprt will be emplyed as fllws: 1. Academic detentin may be assigned t make up wrk. 2. Academic detentin(s) may be assigned t reslve the IE status. b) A student will serve scial suspensin immediately upn fficial ntificatin f receiving an IE status n either the reprt card r prgress reprt. Scial suspensin will remain in effect until the IE status is reslved, but n lnger than thirty (30) schl days. Scial suspensin includes all schl activities nt related t curriculum. c) The student s Insufficient Evidence status must be reslved within ten (10) calendar days after the midpint f the trimester r within ten (10) calendar days after the clse f the trimester grades. The IE grade carries a.5 numerical grade until it is reslved within the ten (10) calendar days. If it is nt reslved within the ten (10) day calendar time perid, the IE becmes a permanent numerical grade f.5 n the reprt card. (Nte: If the tenth day falls n a day f n schl, the wrk will be due n the first day schl resumes.) Nte: This plicy clause des nt apply t the third trimester; IE grades will be final and thus translate t a grade f Pririty shuld be given t the use f summative assessments in determining student prficiency fr a trimester prduct grade. Frmative assessments shuld be used t infrm instructin and cunt minimally twards the trimester Prduct grade. Hmewrk, when identified as an Extensin f Learning assignment, can be included in the student s trimester prduct grade but cannt cunt fr mre than 25% f the Prduct grade.

4 4 5. A student will be allwed t submit missing assignments (r cmparable wrk) withut penalty t the Prduct grade. Such behavir can be indicated in the student s Prcess grade. Nte: As indicated in 3c, assignments assigned within the first half f the trimester must be submitted n later than 10 calendar days after the midpint f the trimester. Assignments assigned within the secnd half f the trimester must be submitted n later than 10 calendar days after the clse f the trimester grades. 6. A student will be prvided with an pprtunity(ies) t re-take an assessment r cmparable assessment within ten (10) schl days. Excluded frm retake are the fllwing assessments: Pre-assessments, Cmmn Task Assessments, Student Learning Objectives (SLOs), State Interim Assessments, and any ther assessment identified by the schl, district r state. a) A student must engage in additinal learning pprtunities t imprve his/her understanding f the cntent prir t retaking assessments. b) Re-teaching may be a necessary cnditin t supprt additinal pprtunities fr retaking assessments. Academic detentin may be assigned. c) The grade shall reflect the mst recent f the test/re-test perfrmance assessment related t the student s learning. d) A student will be infrmed f any assessment which is excluded frm retake. 7. In determining a student s verall trimester grade, all prduct strands will be weighted equally. The median f the prduct strands will determine the trimester grade. A grade f 2 (Appraching Standard) represents a passing grade. 8. A student s final (year-end) subject grade will be determined by calculating the median f the trimester subject grades. A grade f 2 represents a passing grade. 9. Teachers will ntify the parents f any student wh is in danger f failing the trimester, r at any pint when the student s achievement is significantly declining. 10. Using this plicy as a reference, academic departments will develp and distribute, t students and parents, hw students will be assessed and assigned grades within the first mnth f schl. Specific assessment measures, t include prduct and prcess, will be identified as well as their crrespnding weights twards the trimester grade. Schl Cmmittee Reading August 14, 2012

5 Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle Schl f Cventry Hmewrk Plicy Definitin: Hmewrk is an ut-f-class assignment t supprt learning in which mst if nt all wrk is cmpleted utside the classrm. Purpse: The purpse f hmewrk is t supprt learning in ne f fur ways: Preparatin: prvides backgrund infrmatin which allws students t gather/rganize infrmatin befre a lessn/instructin. Checking fr Understanding: prvides students and teachers the pprtunity t assess students grasp f newly acquired learning. Practice: reinfrces newly acquired knwledge and skills. Extensin f Learning: prvides the pursuit f further knwledge and/r higher level cgnitive applicatins, r a cmprehensive assignment in which students have been prvided current instructin and shuld be cmpleted at hme. Hmewrk als prvides parents insight int classrm instructin, curriculum and assessments. Guiding Beliefs: 1. Hmewrk must be f quality in rder fr it t play an imprtant rle in the develpment f skills and the acquisitin f knwledge. 2. Cmpleting hmewrk allws a student t be better prepared t actively participate in class activities and discussins. 3. Hmewrk prvides feedback t the teacher and the student abut hw learning is prgressing. 4. Hmewrk nt cmpleted shuld be cnsidered incmplete; students shuld be given additinal pprtunities t submit wrk when reasnable. 5. Hmewrk may imprve learning and perfrmance n frmative and summative assessments. 6. Hmewrk is assessed and graded based n the type f the assignment. Generally, hmewrk is cnsidered a learner quality (Prcess grade). 7. Hmewrk is ften cnsidered helpful in instilling student respnsibility and study habits. 8. Hmewrk has the ptential t prmte student wnership f learning and encurage selfassessment. 1

6 9. Students will learn mre frm hmewrk if they think the teacher values it and is mnitring it. 10. Students wh regularly cmplete hmewrk shuld be recgnized fr their ut-f-schl wrk ethic. 11. A student s pprtunity, capacity, and ability t cmplete hmewrk are smetimes based n cnditins at hme, parental supprt, and ther external factrs. 12. Students, teachers, and parents all have essential rles in the cmpletin f hmewrk. Plicy 1. Teachers will assign quality (effective) hmewrk. Hmewrk is quality when a. It is relevant, useful, and driven by the learning gals/bjectives f the lessn. b. It elicits a teacher respnse/feedback. c. the purpse f the assignment is clearly understd by students. d. it prvides clear expectatins fr cmpletin. e. it helps evaluate student understanding (Prcess r Prduct). f. it is differentiated, when apprpriate, based n student chice t reach learning gals, student learning style, and a student s pprtunity, capacity and ability. 2. A student will be prvided with an additinal pprtunity t submit hmewrk, when reasnable and apprpriate. 3. Hmewrk will be assessed and graded as fllws: a. Preparatin assignment a Prcess grade b. Checking fr Understanding assignment a Prcess grade c. Practice assignment a Prcess grade d. Extensin f Learning assignment* a Prcess grade, r Prduct grade. Nte that Extensin f Learning hmewrk, if used as a prduct grade, cannt cunt fr mre than 25 percent f the student s verall trimester strand s prduct grade. * Teachers will infrm students when a hmewrk assignment will be graded as a Prduct grade. 4. Hmewrk is generally graded as a Prcess grade. As such, hmewrk is a factr and a cnsideratin in determining Natinal Junir Hnr Sciety eligibility. See Grading Plicy and NJHS criteria. 5. When hmewrk is assigned, it shall last, n average, n mre than 30 minutes per subject area, per night. 6. Hmewrk is a shared respnsibility amng students, teachers, administratin, and parents: 2

7 STUDENT Respnsibility Recgnize that hmewrk prepares yu t be ready fr the next days learning. Recrd hmewrk in Agenda. Ask fr clarificatin when an assignment is nt understd. Take agenda hme with all necessary materials. Accept respnsibility fr cmpleting the assigned wrk independently (if pssible) and turning in quality wrk. Make arrangements with teacher t make-up incmplete/ missing hmewrk assignments. TEACHER Respnsibility Assign hmewrk that is relevant, meaningful, reinfrces classrm learning, and is apprpriate t students learning needs. Prvide time fr each student t recrd hmewrk in agenda, preview the requirements, and ask questins. Prvide time fr clarifying questins. Ensure students understand what is needed t cmplete the hmewrk. Assess hmewrk frmatively and prvide students with immediate feedback. Preparatin, Checking fr Understanding and Practice hmewrk shall be graded by way f the Prcess Strand. Extensin f Learning hmewrk assignment shall be graded in either the Prcess r Prduct strands. Prvide pprtunities t cmplete missed hmewrk (zeres are unacceptable). PARENT Respnsibility Check Agenda nightly and make a plan fr hmewrk time. Ask yur child t explain his/her hmewrk; attempt t clarify, prvide supprt, and respnd t questins. Recrd in the agenda any questins/difficulties child has when cmpleting the hmewrk. Check t be sure child has all necessary materials. Check t see if hmewrk is cmplete and is f quality. Be aware f hmewrk yur child has nt cmpleted. Supprt teacher attempts t prvide additinal time fr students t cmplete the wrk. This may ccur befre, during, after schl, r during lunch. SCHOOL/ADMINISTRATION Respnsibility Establish and cmmunicate t the schl cmmunity the ASFMS cmprehensive hmewrk plicy. Supprt and supervise apprpriate implementatin f hmewrk plicy. 3