Enrollment Grades

1. If available, entry grades will accompany each student upon enrollment into your class.

2. This grade MUST be figured appropriately into the nine-week and semester grades.

3. If entry grades are not available when the student enrolls, you will be notified upon arrival of the records, or you must check with the registrar for specific grades.

Withdrawal Grades

1. The withdrawal grade is an accumulative grade from the first day of the 9 weeks or semester to the date of withdrawal.

2. If a student has been enrolled in school, he/she must receive a grade.

Grade Reporting

Grades should be utilized to help students improve their learning and should be used to guide teaching.  It is the philosophy of this administration that students have the ability to improve upon any score for which they received a low grade.  If a student shows mastery later, isn’t it better that a student is encouraged to redo assignments in order to improve their skills?  Common sense, along with scores, should guide the assigning of grades.  Be certain that beginning of the year orientation of students includes the factors considered in grading.  In addition, grading criteria must be included in your Course Expectations.

Homework

It is expected that the assignment of homework is to be considered a part of each teacher’s expectations for students.

The number, frequency and degree of difficulty of homework assignments should be based on the ability of the student and take into account other activities which make a legitimate claim on the student’s time.  Homework should always serve a learning purpose.  The student should always understand the purpose of the homework assignment and be certain as to what to do or what to look for.  Difficult or new work should always be thoroughly taught before homework is given.  

In keeping with CCSD Policy and Regulation 6143, homework assignments should be assigned for weekends and holidays only on rare or very special occasions.  Homework assignments, which are viewed as punishment, have very limited educational value and should be avoided.

Homework Requests

When a student is to be absent for an extended period (more than 3 school days), a parent/guardian may request homework. Teachers are encouraged to give work that students can complete via the computer and turn in the same way.  Clever, right

0,1,2,3,4,5

Mack Middle School believes in giving every student the best chance for success. Part of this commitment to serving our students giving grades that represent work completed. Instructors must use the following grading system for assessing students’ academic and citizenship achievement.

5=95%

4=85%

3=75%

2=65%

1=55%

Not turned in = 0%

Grading from Absences

Academic grades are not to be used for disciplinary purposes or because of absences.  If work is not made up, it is treated as any other incomplete work and an “F” grade should be recorded for that assignment. For the purpose of giving students a fair opportunity to pass, Mack utilizes a minimum “F.”  Students are to be given the grade they received in the grade book for each assignment.  However, for quarterly grading, students receiving an “F” in the quarter shall be given a 50% or higher to denote an F in the class.

Make-ups

Make-up work should be given to students who have been absent (this should be much easier with the use of student computers, etc)! Remembering that these are middle school students, teachers should help students remember they have a limited time to turn in the work for full credit.  As a school philosophy, students will be given full credit possibility if they turn in work within three school days of their absence.  Teachers are REQUIRED to take all make-up work, no matter how late.  Teachers are REQUIRED to assess all make-up work, no matter how late.  Teachers do not have to give FULL CREDIT POSSIBILITY for any late make-up work.

Progress Reports

From time to time, teachers will be asked to furnish information on students’ progress. These requests may come from a variety of sources:  parents, juvenile authorities, counselors, deans, or administrators.  Please be as concise and truthful as possible.  No need to hurt feelings.  Parents and judges read this stuff.  Please write accordingly.  

Unsatisfactory Progress Reports to Parents

Teachers are required to update their grade books for parent viewing no fewer than once per school week.  Teachers may choose to update their grade books daily for this purpose. Additionally, grades in the grade book should be current, i.e., work that has been turned in should be in the grade book no later than one week past the turn in date.

Citizenship Grades

The “O” grade is held in very high esteem by students and parents alike; this should be neither awarded nor withheld lightly.  The “O” carries with it possible nominations for awards and/or privileges.

“Leadership” has traditionally been an important factor in the awarding of the “O” citizenship grade.  It should be noted, however, that leadership can be overt, where the student accepts an active leadership role in class or school organizations; or it may be covert; that is, leading by example or dedication.  Outstanding citizens may simply be enthusiastic followers.  The following criteria should be considered in the awarding of the “O” citizenship grade:

1. The student is in class on time.

2. Physical movement in class is appropriate for the activity at hand.

3. The student acts respectfully toward the teacher and other students.

The “O” grade will in no way be linked to ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT.  It is, however, very closely related to academic effort.

Unsatisfactory Citizenship

Students may be reported for unsatisfactory citizenship only when a parent notification has been made previously either by unsatisfactory notice or a phone contact in the last 2 weeks of the grading period. Under no circumstances should a “U” in citizenship be given unless the parent has been notified.

Section 504 Confidentiality Statement

All student educational records established as part of the identification, evaluation, and appropriate program under the provisions of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are confidential records.  As such, access to or dissemination of these records is subject to the provisions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 and District Policy and Regulations relating to student records.