APS Retake Policy change announced

[Anonymous]

Reading the email from Duran tonight where it just casually mentions that the retake policy for summative assessments will completely change Jan 30. The current policy was just implemented in August. How can a major, district wide grading policy change in the middle of a school year?

[Anonymous]

Well, it helps that they pulled it out of their…. (ahem) in August without adequate consideration or discussion with stakeholders.

[Anonymous]

The relevant section of the email.

A student who scores below 80 percent must be afforded the opportunity to retake or revise a summative assessment after remediation. The teacher shall determine the type and timeframe of remediation and implementation of the retake or revision. Only the higher score, up to 80 percent, on the summative assessment from the original or the retake or revision, will be used to calculate the student’s grade.

So the highest they can get on a retake is 80 correct?

I am not at all surprised as the retake policy was a disaster to administer. But surprised they pulled it mid-year with so little notice.

[Anonymous]

What was the policy before? This email was really confusing (I have elementary school kids, so it's not immediately relevant to me, but I'm curious.)

[Anonymous]

How do they expect these children to survive college where there are No retake?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do they expect these children to survive college where there are No retake?

They took away the retakes basically. So never fear they will survive college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What was the policy before? This email was really confusing (I have elementary school kids, so it's not immediately relevant to me, but I'm curious.)

Starting this year they had to offer retakes to anyone who wanted one.

Here is how I saw it play out with my student and what he reported.

Many students who didn’t get a 90 or above on the test took the retest just to see what would happen. They did not require remediation they just wanted an A. Results were typically not any better on the retake and often worse. Teachers had to write 2 tests instead of 1. So many kids doing retakes that it was taking up instructional days in tougher classes as so many kids wanted retakes they had to be offered during regular class time.

All in all a terrible policy in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What was the policy before? This email was really confusing (I have elementary school kids, so it's not immediately relevant to me, but I'm curious.)

Starting this year they had to offer retakes to anyone who wanted one.

Here is how I saw it play out with my student and what he reported.

Many students who didn’t get a 90 or above on the test took the retest just to see what would happen. They did not require remediation they just wanted an A. Results were typically not any better on the retake and often worse. Teachers had to write 2 tests instead of 1. So many kids doing retakes that it was taking up instructional days in tougher classes as so many kids wanted retakes they had to be offered during regular class time.

All in all a terrible policy in the first place.

Oh and let’s not forget not even remotely achieving the stated goal of actually motivating kids who were doing poorly to learn the material.

I think the retake policy was harmless in that kids still got the grade they were going to get in the end. But I can see how it was a nightmare for the teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What was the policy before? This email was really confusing (I have elementary school kids, so it's not immediately relevant to me, but I'm curious.)

Starting this year they had to offer retakes to anyone who wanted one.

Here is how I saw it play out with my student and what he reported.

Many students who didn’t get a 90 or above on the test took the retest just to see what would happen. They did not require remediation they just wanted an A. Results were typically not any better on the retake and often worse. Teachers had to write 2 tests instead of 1. So many kids doing retakes that it was taking up instructional days in tougher classes as so many kids wanted retakes they had to be offered during regular class time.

All in all a terrible policy in the first place.

PP you quoted, thanks for the explanation. I thought the 80 cutoff was surprising - a retake for less than a B? Less than 90 sounds insane. I could understand if you really bombed, but an A or a B is not that. I'm very clearly out of touch with how things work today!

[Anonymous]

The retakes were at lunch

Teachers made two tests for sick kids too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The retakes were at lunch

Teachers made two tests for sick kids too

In our school they were not at lunch. Lunch isn’t enough time to take the test. It’s a lot shorter than a class period.

Ours were either class time or after school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The retakes were at lunch

Teachers made two tests for sick kids too

I don’t think they make a second test for sick kids. Following this logic they’ll need in fact a third test. Sick kids, retake, original test. Some kids might be sick for the retake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What was the policy before? This email was really confusing (I have elementary school kids, so it's not immediately relevant to me, but I'm curious.)

Starting this year they had to offer retakes to anyone who wanted one.

Here is how I saw it play out with my student and what he reported.

Many students who didn’t get a 90 or above on the test took the retest just to see what would happen. They did not require remediation they just wanted an A. Results were typically not any better on the retake and often worse. Teachers had to write 2 tests instead of 1. So many kids doing retakes that it was taking up instructional days in tougher classes as so many kids wanted retakes they had to be offered during regular class time.

All in all a terrible policy in the first place.

PP you quoted, thanks for the explanation. I thought the 80 cutoff was surprising - a retake for less than a B? Less than 90 sounds insane. I could understand if you really bombed, but an A or a B is not that. I'm very clearly out of touch with how things work today!

From the student’s perspective a second test is offered. Take it and see what happens. Might get the A.

[Anonymous]

I think this is the FCPS policy. At least it is in my kids’ classes. I don’t understand though… are people upset that the max score is 80?? I’ve always thought this was generous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think this is the FCPS policy. At least it is in my kids’ classes. I don’t understand though… are people upset that the max score is 80?? I’ve always thought this was generous.

I don’t think anyone is upset. They just changed the policy mid year with short notice.