Grading Practices and Expectations

Briar Woods High School English Department 
Grading and Assessment Guidelines
2020-2021 School Year

Grading and Assessment Overview

According to School Board Policy 5030, the student gradebook must be comprised of the following types of assessments:

Formal Formative:  Assessments that serve to provide feedback on student’s progress and are included in the grade book, but they are not factored into a student’s overall average.

Minor Summative: Assignments that serve to assess a student’s progress on specific standards and are included in the calculation of the student’s overall average. These minor summative assessments must count for less than 10% each of the quarter grade (could include homework if linked to content and accuracy). 

Major Summative: Assignments that serve to assess a student’s progress on overarching skills and standards and are included in the calculation of the student’s overall average. Each of these assessments must count for 10% - 20% of the quarter grade. The total of all major summative assessments must comprise at least 80% of the student’s quarter grade. 

Grading and Assessment Guidelines relating to Work Completion

Student Expectations:

• Work is expected to be completed to the best of their ability and turned in on time. 
• Late work will be accepted up to two weeks past the due date.*
• Late work will be accepted up until the last week of the quarter.*
• *Exceptions will be made for extenuating circumstances at the teacher’s discretion. If you have concerns about being able to turn in your work on time, please contact your teacher to let them know. They will work to support you.
• After three (3) late assignments, a conversation involving a student support team comprised of the student, teacher, parent, counselor, and administrator [if necessary] will be had to discuss interventions and student supports. If interventions and supports are unsuccessful, the student support team may make other recommendations up to and including no longer accepting late work. This three (3) assignment limit resets at the end of the quarter.
• Floor Grade: a floor grade of 50% will be given if a student makes a reasonable effort to complete the assignment.
• Reasonable effort is defined as thoughtfully attempting to complete at least 50% of the assignment
• A student may earn a grade less than 50% if no reasonable effort is made
• Teachers will use the “R” code in StudentVUE/ParentVUE to reflect the floor grade if a student earns less than a 50%. This change will be completed at the end of each quarter. 

Teacher Expectations:

• Teachers are expected to record in Schoology whether or not an assignment was turned in on the day an assignment is due.
• Teachers will use the notes section of the grade book to communicate when an assignment was initially due and when that late assignment is submitted. 
• Teacher will use grade book comment codes in Schoology to communicate when an assignment is:
• Excused
• Incomplete
• Missing  

Grading and Assessment Guidelines relating to Reassessment

Student Expectations:

• Students are expected to be prepared and to do their very best on every assessment administered. 
• If a student would like a reassessment, they must meet or email the teacher to discuss remediation and student illustration of learning within 3 school days of the initial grade posting, AND they must complete the student reassessment plan before a reassessment will be scheduled. The following are the administrative steps you need to take:
  1. Email Mrs. Foster to suggest or ask what remediation would prepare you for the reassessment (within 3 days of the grade posting).
  2. Complete that remediation.
  3. Complete the Online Student Reassessment Plan (OR the paper copy).
  4. Take the Reassessment.
  5. Complete the Request to Grade a Retake Form.
• These meetings should take place during Learning Lab or during a teacher’s established office hours (or by appointment if necessary)
• Reassessments must take place within 10 school days from when the initial grade is posted
• Failure to meet the requirements for remediation or reassessment will void the student's request for reassessment.
• Students are allotted up to two (2) reassessments per quarter.
• Students may only complete a reassessment on major summative assignments.
• No reassessment may earn a score higher than 80%, but the student will receive the higher of the two grades. 

Teacher Expectations:

• Teachers are expected to enter grades in a timely fashion: within six (6) school days of receiving the assignment. 
• Lengthy assignments like essays and projects may take longer, but this information should be communicated with all parties.
• Teachers will use the notes section in the Schoology grade book to communicate when a reassessment is given. They should list the date of the reassessment and the original score earned.

Grading and Assessment Guidelines relating to Academic Dishonesty

Academic Dishonesty:

Students are expected to perform honestly on schoolwork and tests. Any student who turns in work that is not their own as their own from whatever source, or who assists or gives their work to another student will receive a consequence aligned with the LCPS disciplinary guidelines as described in the Students Rights and Responsibilities Guide and LCPS Policy 8215, In-School Disciplinary Measures. 

If dishonestly is determined, students must complete an alternate summative assessment to demonstrate learning. An academic recovery plan will be created for the counselor, administrator, teacher, parent, and student. Any academic recovery plan may include a parent-teacher conference, retaking the assessment, an alternative assessment, a lowering of the grade, or receiving a failing grade. 

Student Responsibilities:

The following actions are prohibited:

• Cheating on a test or assigned work by giving, receiving, offering and/or soliciting information.
• Plagiarizing by copying the language, structure, idea and/or thoughts of another.
• Falsifying statements on any assigned schoolwork, test, or other school documents. 

Teacher Responsibilities:

The following actions should be taken:

• Clearly define expectations regarding collaborative and independent work.
• Reinforce behavioral expectations regarding dishonest in assigned work.
• Provide feedback throughout the learning process or the assignment timeline.
• Take reasonable actions to maintain assessment and test security.