Academic Grading Policy

1.   Academic Standards

 

Exams, short projects, presentations, classroom and homework assignments, quizzes, etc. are an essential way for teachers to gauge students’ understanding of materials and allow the teacher to inform instruction. Formative assessments prepare students for the next day’s lesson, reinforce former lessons taught, and develop critical thinking skills. Each class has a late policy for submission of assignments. Homework assignments will not amount to more than 10% of the overall grade.

 

Examinations will be aligned with the NYS Next Generation Learning Standards and will be returned to students with constructive feedback and/or reflective questions to guide students in improving their understanding. The frequency and specific percentage value of examinations are established by department guidelines and rubrics for all students.

 

2.   Classroom Standards

 

Students’ classroom readiness is determined by being on time to class, regardless of what class period of the day, and being ready to work when the class begins. Teachers will monitor student readiness and communicate objective measures of readiness to students and parents. Readiness will not amount to more than 10% of the overall grade.

 

Classroom participation is determined by the quality and frequency of performance in class activities, including: written and oral assignments, presentations, as well as participation in group and individual activities, exercises, discussions, and projects in the class. Teachers will be transparent on the measures used to determine participation grades.

 

The specific weight given to each of the aforementioned components will contribute to the determination of students’ cumulative final grades. Below is the grading system and numeric equivalents used by PS 130 Manhattan:

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GRADE           DESCRIPTION

1                      Well Below Standards

2                      Below (Approaching) Standards

3                      Proficient (Meeting Standards)

4                      Excels in Standards

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Timeline of Student Grades:

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PS 130 Manhattan issues report cards three times a year, with the cumulative final grade given on the last report card issued. At the conclusion of each year, final grades are entered onto NYCDOE STARS systems and serve as the permanent grade on students’ academic record for that particular course.

 

Appealing a Final Grade

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To appeal a teacher’s final grade, students/parents must present all documentation to the teacher to argue their case within 20 calendar days. If the teacher denies the appeal to change the final grade, the student/parent may appeal to the principal who will make a determination for the final grade based on evidence provided by both the teacher and the student/parent. If the principal should decide to change students’ final grades based on evidence provided, the principal will provide a written notice and rationale of the change to the teacher, in accordance with UFT agreement.

 

Make-up Assignments:

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Students who have been absent from class for verified, legitimate reasons (such as illness, family emergencies, attendance at funerals, etc.) are to be given a reasonable opportunity to make up missed work, including examinations and quizzes. Handwritten notes from parents and/or physicians verifying legitimate absences will be accepted by teachers. Teachers will communicate make-up policy to students; students will be responsible for make-up work within the timeline communicated by teachers.

 

Academic Intervention Services:

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Students' progress is measured and documented multiple times across the year. Those students who are at risk of failing are given Academic Intervention Services, either in-class or as a pull-out session. This year, we will also be implementing an MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Support) approach to targeting students’ needs, based on the Acadience Reading screener assessment data. 

 

Opportunities to Discuss Student Progress:

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Formal Parent-teacher conferences will take place twice a year (fall and spring). Teachers, counselors and supervisors can also be reached via email to discuss student progress anytime outside the scheduled conferences. Please allow school staff 48 hours to respond to requests.

 

Promotion Decisions:

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Promotion decisions are made using multiple measures of student performance throughout the course of the school year and standardized State exams. If a student’s promotion to the next grade is in jeopardy at the end of the school year, the main opportunity to make up the coursework is during the Summer Rising program. For these students, failure to attend the summer program and demonstrate mastery of content area may result in retention at the same grade level the following school year.