AISD adjusts second semester grading policies

By Donnie A. Lucas

Local schools remain closed this week and throughout the rest of the month by order of Gov. Greg Abbott in an effort to minimize the threat of coronavirus - COVID 19.

Schools across the state will stay shuttered until May 4 under the most recent order, which could be extended through the remainder of the school year.

Teachers and staff have been busy over the last three weeks delivering content to students at Nancy Smith Elementary and Albany Jr/Sr. High School.

Because of the shelter in place order, offices at both campuses will be closed through April 24, with a few exceptions.

The school board met in a remote special session Monday evening to consider a recommendation from the District Improvement Committee pertaining to grading policy and class ranking for high school students.

Elementary Grading

The elementary school will use a modified grading policy for the sixth six-weeks grading period only, along with setting an expectation of hours of work each day based on grade level.

The temporary policy recommends a total of 30 minutes per day of work for all subjects combined for students in Pre-K and kindergarten, increasing to 45 to 60 minutes per day for first and second graders.

Students in grades 3-6 will have an expectation of one to one and a half hours per day for all subjects combined.

While no specific number of graded assignments was set for Pre-K through second grade students, a minimum of eight grades was set for grades 3-6 in each of the four core classes. Work for electives will continue to be sent home, and students will receive an E for exempt in the gradebook if assignments are completed.

Students in Pre-K through second grade will receive a Pass/Fail designation for the grading period based on the work returned. A numeric grade of 90 will be assigned in student records for a Passing designation, while a 70 numeric grade will be given to students receiving a Fail designation, which will indicate the student is at-risk or did not complete and/or turn in assignments.

Third through sixth grade students will be given their actual numeric grade average for the four core classes of math, reading, science, and social studies.

Secondary Grading

Changes at the secondary level were simpler, with the same number of 11 grades per class required for the sixth six-weeks.

However, all 11 grades per class will be weighted the same rather than the usual three test grades at 60 percent and eight daily grades at 40 percent.

A grade of 0 will be assigned for missing work that isn’t turned back in, but teachers are asked to consider extending deadlines if extenuating circumstances are communicated in a timely manner by a student or parent.

Another change for high school students was implemented for this semester only, with the semester averages for students in grades 9-11 frozen at the end of the first semester for class ranking calculations. Students must still complete and receive a passing grade of 70 or more to receive credit for each classes or be subject to repeating the course next year.

Seniors will have grades for calculating class rank or GPA stopped at the end of the fourth six weeks. However, seniors must still pass each class in order to receive credit for the course and meet graduation requirements.

Teachers were instructed to be available between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. each school day to answer questions or provide assistance to students and parents via Google Classroom, Zoom, email, or telephone.

Secondary Campus Report

Students in grades 7-12 are being provided assignments via Google Classroom. A few students who do not have internet service are also being provided with printed copies of assignments.

“For the most part, students are doing the assignments,” principal Edward Morales said. “However, we do have students who are not keeping up or haven’t turned anything in yet.”

Morales stressed that the fifth six-weeks grading period ends on Thursday (today) and grades will reflect exactly what students have completed at that time.

“Students and parents both need to realize that the work must be completed in order to get credit for each course,” he said. “Teachers have been busy providing work online, but it is up to each student to be responsible to complete the work in the time frame that is assigned.”

Morales noted that while the Education Commission has waived STAAR testing for the spring semester, including End-of-Course Exams needed to graduate, students must still get credit for each class with a passing grade.

“Teachers and the office have been busy contacting students who haven’t done their work, along with their parents,” he said. “Many of the students are responding, but there are several who aren’t turning in their work and will run the risk of not earning credit.”

Senior and sophomore English teacher Melanie Turner spent most of her time at the school on Monday attempting to call parents.

“I have sent emails to every student with missing grades over the weekend,” she said. “However, I still have 16 students who have turned in very little to nothing whose parents I am attempting to call. We are running out of time for this six-weeks.”

Turner said that she is also concerned about a large segment of students who are turning in some assignments but not completing others.

“Some students seem to be picking and choosing which assignments to complete, but they are all important,” Turner said. “Teachers are putting in a lot of work to put the work online, but some students don’t seem to be taking it seriously.”

She added that there are a handful of photocopied packets for students that have yet to be picked up from the office, and other assignments that have never been returned.

Grade School Work

Elementary principal John Gallagher said that there would be a slight change in the Friday pickup and return period that was initiated last Friday.

“This week we moved the day back to Thursday (today) due to the Good Friday holiday,” he said. “We will have assignments on tables by grade level in the front circle between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.”

Parents need to remain in their vehicle and advance to the table or tables for their students’ grade level. A staff member will accept any work to be returned from last Friday, and a new packet for the coming week will be handed to the parent.

“The vast majority of the students have been completing their work,” he said. “There are very few who have not been turning in their work. We are grateful for so many good students and parents who are working with us through this situation.”

Meals for students can continue to be picked up daily, including tomorrow (Good Friday). Breakfast is available from 8:00 a.m. until 8:30 a.m., while lunch is available from 11:45 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Lunches can be ordered when breakfast is picked up or called into the grade school office before 9:00 a.m. The number is 325-762-3384.

“We made a change where parents can call in and place an order for a whole week at a time instead of having to call daily,” Gallagher said.