High School Grading Practices Letter - Seattle Public Schools

High School Grading Practices Letter (9/18/08)
Frequently Asked Questions
This document was updated on 9/22/08
Q: Is the letter going to be translated for our ELL students?
A: Because of its importance, we have asked the bilingual office to translate the letter into 9
major languages. We shall send them to schools electronically next Wednesday, September 24.
Q: How do we deal with the 2.0 policy for athletics?
A: School Board Policy C15.02 is clear that the “N” for “E” substitution is to be used "For
purposes of this Board‐adopted graduation requirement only."
• As long as the graduation 2.0 is in effect, there will still be a 2.0 required for Athletics,
with “E” being counted as an “E
• Each student is entitled to take one course Pass/No Credit (“P”/”N”) each semester.
Student athletes are entitled to have one “P”/”N” grade in terms of their 2.0 athletic
eligibility requirement, provided that they have followed the procedures and timelines
for taking a course on a Pass/No Credit basis.
• October 3, 2008 is the end of the fifth week of school, this year. Student athletes who
are doing poorly in a course have only until the 3 rd of October to meet with their
counselors in order to elect to take the course for Pass/No Credit instead of a “letter
grade.”
Q: In #3, it sounds like "E" grades will not count in regards to the 2.0 graduation requirement.
But in #4 it says the "E" grade does influence their GPA. Would you clarify this?
A: Effective Fall 2008, high school students’ GPAs will be calculated by adding up all the
students’ grade points, with “E” equal to “0” (indicating course failure) and then dividing the
total by the number of classes taken that term. For example:
A+A+C+E+ B+B =
4+ 4+2+0+ 3+3 =
16.
16/6 = 2.66666 GPA
It is only when determining the Graduation Eligibility GPA of 2.0 that counselors will consider
the “E” grade as an “N”; that is, the total number of course grade points will be divided by 5
classes instead of by 6.
4 + 4 + 2 + 3 + 3 + =
16.
16/5 = 3.20000 GPA
In all other cases, the “E” grade will count as course failure (“0” grade points)
Q: When a student requests approval for taking a class P/N, will that remain P/N? To be
equitable, should it not be P/E?
A: During the 2007‐2008 school year, the High School Steering Committee’s sub‐committee on
Grading considered your question. “Current School Board Policy states that a student may take
one class per semester as Pass/No Credit (P/N. This ensures that the student either gets credit
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or no credit, and there is no repercussion to the grade point average if the student does not
receive credit in the course. There is no restriction as to the course the student selects;
however, counselors often advise students not to take HEC Board classes as P/N because such
grades have a pejorative connotation for college admissions officers. A number of surrounding
districts have a Pass/Fail policy. Failing a course under the P/E (fail) option does affect the
student’s GPA. The Grading committee recommends NO CHANGE to the current Pass/No
Credit (P/N) policy.” (Grading Sub‐Committee Meeting Record for April 16, 2008.)
The High School Steering Committee unanimously approved the sub‐committee’s
recommendation with respect to the P/N option.
Q: After the 10 day period, if a student changes classes, a “W” goes down on his transcript.
Should the registrar do this or the counselor?
A: Seattle Public Schools does not specify which position is the one to enter the “W.” That
being said, it seems logical that having one person (the registrar) entering the information
would yield more consistent practice than having a number of people entering the grade. Here
is the rule about transcript records for classes dropped:
Within the first two weeks of the term – No transcript notation
After 10 days – “W” is noted on the transcript
After 5 weeks – “E” is noted on the transcript (Counseling Handbook)
Q: Are the grading protocols the same for the Homeschool Resource Center? (HRC)
A: No. The Seattle School Board authorizes the Homeschool Resource Center as an Alternative
Learning Experience (ALE) program, with its own procedures with respect to grading.
Specifically,
• Any course of study that is done at home under the supervision of a parent is
given a Credit/No Credit unless the student contracts with the teacher at the
onset of the coursework for a letter grade.
• When a student participates in a class with a contracted HRC teacher, a letter
grade is made available.
• Transcripts with HRC students will have more than one "P" per grading period.
Q: I am concerned that the letter about grading practices does not specifically point out that
if a student drops a course after the FIFTH WEEK of the term, the grade “E” will be placed on
the transcript. Would you please add this information to the letter?
A: Good point. Enclosed find a copy of the letter, with this sentence added.
Q: Does the “one ‘P’ grade per student, per semester” rule apply to Special Education
students?
A: Yes, it does. Students with disabilities can take classes as Pass/No Credit, but only as a result
of an IEP or 504 Plan that includes such a provision. This is a team decision, not a decision of
the student alone. Keep in mind that as a general matter, grading Special Education students as
Pass/No Credit is disfavored.
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