345.11 - STUDENT EVALUATION, GRADING, CLASS RANK, AND HONOR ROLL
I. PHILOSOPHYThe Auburndale Board of Education recognizes that evaluation and grading of students is a complex and involved process. The results of evaluation and grading shall serve as a tool for communication with parents in regard to their child's educational program. To assist the teaching staff in this important task, the following general guidelines are established:
1. The basic philosophy of the district is that students will respond more positively to the opportunity for success than to the threat of failure. Instructional activities need to be provided which make achievement both recognizable and possible for each student.
2. There are many ways to evaluate progress made by students. Teachers are encouraged to develop, with the knowledge of their building principal, formal and informal methods of measuring student progress. These methods, however, should enhance self-image and develop the spirit of inquiry.
3. The purpose of any evaluation procedure is to improve both teacher and student performance. The results of evaluation procedures should be reported in a manner that will assist in this purpose.
4. Students should be evaluated on how they compare to certain standards developed for that age group as they relate to course content and curriculum standards. Consideration should also be given to individual ability and specifics outlined in an Individual Educational Plan (IEP).
5. Staff members shall collaborate to pursue reasonable uniformity of standards and expectations by grade level or department. Students must be informed of the grading criteria and what is expected for certain grades at the beginning of each semester. Grading procedures shall be related to the objectives of the course or subject.
6. Procedures shall be developed which make grades a useful indicator for parents and students of individual academic progress. Grades are not to be viewed as judgments that reflect on the worthiness of an individual.
7. Teachers are expected to keep and record a substantially sufficient number of daily grades, test grades, and other student generated products on which to base final grades. All grades must be justifiable.
8. Class participation may be used as component in student assessment, however, State Statues 120.13 (1) (b) and 118.16 (4) (a) shall be followed in the application of this criteria.
9. Grades shall not be used for disciplinary action. Disciplinary concerns shall be expedited in a manner separate from academic grading. However, consistent behavioral problems may interfere with a student's ability to meet the objectives of a course and may result in lower grades.
10. In accordance with State Statutes 120.13 (1) (b) and 118.16 (4) (a), students will not be denied the opportunity to take any quarterly, semester or grading period examinations or to complete course work missed due to excused absences, unexcused absences, or suspensions. Make-up work is also subject to procedures and guidelines recorded in the student handbook.
11. The teacher will establish and implement procedures to inform students in writing of any assignments, tests, quizzes, or any other class requirements in which the student is deficient of each quarter. Late assignments are subject to reduced grades.
12. Make up of course work or tests missed because of absences is the responsibility of the student with the cooperation of the teacher. However, students will not be required to do any additional work or assignment not missed in the regular class due to their absence.
13. When students are admitted from other schools, their semester grades will be accepted at face value. Thus an "A", for example, will be accepted as an "A" regardless of the code of numerical equivalents used by the discharging school.
14. A teacher will not reduce a student's grade for an excused absence in association with a school sponsored activity.
II. SPECIFIC GRADING SYSTEM, CLASS RANK, AND HONOR ROLL
In order to make the grading system compatible with other schools, universities and colleges, the Presidential Academic Fitness Program, Wisconsin Academic Decathlon, W.I.A.A. Scholar Athlete Program, school and business scholarships, etc., the School District of Auburndale will use a four point scale.
A. All quarter and semester grades will be calculated on numerical value. Semester grades will be determined by averaging the percentage grades from the two quarters. The semester final percentage will be the percentage used for the student’s semester letter grade and that grade will be used for the student’s cumulative grade point.
Semester Average Examples:
Quarter Percentages: 94% 90% = 92% Semester Average
81% 43% = 62% Semester Average
70% 96% = 83% Semester Average
B. At the beginning of each course, students will be given a copy of the course's grading criteria. This information will be discussed by the instructor and will include exact percentages assigned to earn all grades. (A, A-, B+, B, etc.)
C. It is the intention of this policy to encourage students with lower grades throughout the entire semester as well as make them accountable. In cases where a student has achieved significantly below the "F" level during the first and third quarters, it will be the responsibility of the teacher to provide the student a realistic opportunity to achieve a passing grade for the semester. (The teacher will work with the guidance counselor and principal to create an improvement plan and provide documented support to the student in this failing situation). Semester grades will give consideration to student performance and the student’s completion of the individually assigned improvement plan. Grades for the second and fourth quarters will be calculated for the semester grade at the exact percentile that is attained by the student during these quarters.
D. Reporting of student performance will be accomplished by means of a letter grade. Numerical values in the four-point system assigned to each letter and percentage should be used or converted to as follows:
A = Excellent: Is making excellent progress, displays very high levels of interest,
originality, and initiative; does work of excellent quality.
A Grade point: 4.0
A- Grade point: 3.7
B = Above Average: Is making very good progress; displays above average effort, does
very good work promptly and neatly, has very good study habits.
B+ Grade point: 3.3
B Grade point: 3.0
B- Grade point: 2.7
C = Average: Is making good progress; makes a response on definitely
assigned work, is developing satisfactory study habits.
C+ Grade point: 2.3
C Grade point: 2.0
C- Grade point: l.7
D = Below Average: Needs to improve, can do better work with more effort; should
improve study habits and daily work; should prepare required
work with more thoroughness.
D+ Grade point: l.3
D Grade point: l.0
D- Grade point: 0.7
E = Minimum Passing: Indicates that although a student has not met minimum
achievement requirements, credit is being granted for this course
because the student has tried with reasonable effort and lacks the
ability to improve by repeating the course.
E Grade point: 0.7
F = Failure Is making unsatisfactory progress; displays little effort to achieve;
lacks interest; work is too poor to justify passing in this subject.
F Grade point: 0
I = Incomplete Indicates assigned work has not been completed usually because
of condition beyond the student's control. If the work is not made
up within a reasonable length of time, the student's grade will be
changed from "I" to the appropriate grade calculated with the
missing work receiving an "F".
E. At the High School level (grades 9 - 12), the first seven semesters are used to determine scholarship designees, valedictorian, and salutatorian. High School class rank will be determined utilizing grades from all completed semesters and honor roll will be computed using the above system.
F. Extra credit work may be made available to students. To insure fairness and equity, the instructor must incorporate the following before offering extra credit to students:
1. All students will be informed of the opportunity to do extra credit work.
2. The instructor must provide all students equal access and availability to the criteria being used for extra credit.
3. The extra credit must be evaluated with uniformity for all students.
4. Choosing not to participate in extra credit work cannot lower a student's grade.
5. Submitted extra credit work shall not lower a student's grade.
6. All extra credit work must be academically related to the subject area and not involve any type of chance, lottery, gambling, etc.
G. The School District of Auburndale shall maintain an honor roll for those students in Junior High and Senior High achieving high academic standards. There shall be a high honor roll and a regular honor roll.
1. To be eligible for the high honor roll, a student must have achieved at least a 3.7 grade point average with no F's in the grading period. Those students who achieve at least a 3.0 grade point average shall be eligible for the regular honor roll provided that they have not received any F's.
2. The honor roll will be compiled by the office staff. It will be published in the District Mirror and submitted to local newspapers after each grading period.
The School District of Auburndale shall not discriminate in the methods, practices and materials used for evaluating students on the basis of sex, race, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, mental, emotional or learning disability.
Adopted: June 15, 2005
Posted: 11/09/2007 09:24:13 am