Beaufort County schools announce coronavirus grading policy for all students
Beaufort County School District Superintendent Frank Rodriguez announced a new grading plan Tuesday night for the rest of the semester, providing clarity for students and teachers after more than a month of coronavirus-motivated school closures and remote learning.
The plan, which varies by grade level, was developed with “compassion” in mind for students’ remote learning situations, Rodriguez said during Tuesday’s school board meeting, and provides leeway on individual grades for students.
Students in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten will receive progress reports at the end of the school year detailing their in- and out-of-school work. Work done after schools were closed will be graded for engagement, not accuracy, though teachers will note areas to improve in that progress report, Rodriguez said.
First- through fifth-grade students will receive one of three numeric “engagement” grades for their at-home assignments: Meets Expectations (100), Approaches Expectations (85) and Does Not Meet Expectations (70).
Those grades will be “based on completion of assignments (online or work packets), participation in online classes or phone calls with teachers,” according to the district.
Per state order, middle and high school students will receive one combined grade for the spring semester rather than separate third and fourth quarter grades. They’ll receive one of four numeric “engagement” grades: Meets Expectations (100), Approaches Expectations (85), Does Not Meet Expectations (70) and Work Not Submitted (50).
However, the high school grade policy has several exceptions. Students will receive traditional grades in classes that carry college credit, such as Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and dual enrollment courses. Students cannot take college classes for a “pass/fail” credit, Rodriguez said.
“Schools on block schedules have several classes that started right at the closure,” district spokesman Jim Foster wrote in a press release. “Teachers of these courses introduced new content and will grade students as they normally would so there are enough assignments to justify a grade.”
All high school seniors’ work must be turned in by May 15, per state policy.
The new grading policies are specific to Beaufort County, Rodriguez said, though they were made with input from the South Carolina Department of Education, district principals and the county’s Teacher Forum and the district’s teacher professional advocacy group.
Parents will receive information on the new policies Wednesday.