50% Rule

[Anonymous]

And so it begins again, just got our weekly email from Prinicpal and MCPS is going back to the 50% rule for grading work that falls under the “All Task & Assessments “ category…. 😵‍💫🤬

[Anonymous]

Could you explain what the change is from the current policy? Was the 50% rule not in place the first semester this year? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

It is a dumb rule just like the retakes.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t know it ever left. Was a change made?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And so it begins again, just got our weekly email from Prinicpal and MCPS is going back to the 50% rule for grading work that falls under the “All Task & Assessments “ category…. 😵‍💫🤬

That's great news but I didn't know they had changed it even. You going to behalf of the

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t know it ever left. Was a change made?

Chalk it up under if a tree fell... Basically this is another non-issue.

[Anonymous]

At our HS, the 50% rule was not applied for the first semester so the Principal emailed today saying that it was being applied district wide.

[Anonymous]

At our school the 50% rule has not been used for the first semester. The Principal said that it was to be applied district wide. So it gives the impression that some schools are using the 50% rule and some were not.

[Anonymous]

I thought 50% was a county wide rule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our school the 50% rule has not been used for the first semester. The Principal said that it was to be applied district wide. So it gives the impression that some schools are using the 50% rule and some were not.

At my child’s HS, some teachers applied 50% to missing assignments and others gave zeros. Unfortunately, I have a kid that games the system: all A’s 1st quarter; minimum effort to maintain B’s 2nd quarter.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our school the 50% rule has not been used for the first semester. The Principal said that it was to be applied district wide. So it gives the impression that some schools are using the 50% rule and some were not.

I hate the 50% rule and think it should be abolished, but it’s completely ridiculous for different schools of the same grade levels in a public school district to have such widely different grading policies, when grades affect college admissions.

[Anonymous]

I didn’t realize some schools followed it and some didn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn’t realize some schools followed it and some didn’t.

The issue is the parent population.

A teacher CAN give a zero for a missing assignment, but must document that the parent has been notified and responds that they know. If you teach at a school with responsive parents, you give zeros. If you teach at a school with non-responsive parents (include those gaming the system), you give 50% and move on with your day. With all the coverage we’re doing, who has time to try to contact a parent for the tenth time in a row. A parent who sees a Z grade and cares is going to contact you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At our school the 50% rule has not been used for the first semester. The Principal said that it was to be applied district wide. So it gives the impression that some schools are using the 50% rule and some were not.

I hate the 50% rule and think it should be abolished, but it’s completely ridiculous for different schools of the same grade levels in a public school district to have such widely different grading policies, when grades affect college admissions.

Well, we love it so I guess it balances out.

[Anonymous]

I don't think the 50% rule makes a huge difference to most strong and focused students. How often are your kids getting less than 50% on a test? Sure it can happen to anyone once or twice but honestly in that case I happy to have my kid not kill the whole semester grade or be able to relearn and get a retake. I think this is more an issue for kids who are in danger of not graduating (and who it is designed to help). Don't drop out because of a low test grade.