Changes to 50 percent rule rolling out at Whitman; also at other MCPS high schools?

[Anonymous]

A student journalist at Whitman reported on the school's move to adjust the 50 percent rule. Namely, stripping away the requirement of two-way communication before a zero can be assigned:

SOURCE: https://mocoshow.com/2024/01/29/change-to-50-percent-rule-marks-shift-in-mcps-grading-trends/

This marking period, Whitman administrators began to roll out through department meetings a revised, county-wide grading policy, including new guidance regarding the current “50 percent” rule. The new rule, to go into effect in the second semester in MCPS, allows teachers to give students zeros for missing work provided that they contact the student’s guardians. Previously, MCPS administrators expected teachers to participate in two-way communication before assigning a zero, meaning they had to contact the student’s guardian and receive a response.

The change shortens the steps between a student missing an assignment and their receiving a zero and may substantially change the culture surrounding the 50 percent rule. The English department was the first at Whitman to receive the new rule via a summary sheet at their department meeting on Dec. 18. Administrators across MCPS are now circulating similar guides as the second semester approaches. In addition to the zero rule change, the new grading policy includes a commitment to clear reassessment opportunities and consistent grading between different sections of a class.

Following the policy announcement, the Montgomery County Education Association entered into negotiations with MCPS to ensure that teachers would not be reprimanded for potentially violating a mid-year policy change. MCPS officials agreed to continue the rollout but with teacher “coaching” as the aim until the 2024-2025 school year, MCEA confirmed in an email to members. Then, compliance will be mandatory.

It's confusing since this is a student journalist report if this is systemwide, but given the MCEA confirmation, it seems like it is. But why isn't MCPS communicating about this change systemwide? This is the kind of information that should be in the Things to Know messages.

Teachers on DCUM: Are all MCPS high schools making this shift? If so, does it look differently at your school versus what's described at Whitman?

[Anonymous]

"Even within Blair, different departments are interpreting the rule differently."

https://silverchips.mbhs.edu/content/mcps-rolls-out-new-mid-year-regulations-allowing-zeros-to-return-to-gradebooks-36377/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A student journalist at Whitman reported on the school's move to adjust the 50 percent rule. Namely, stripping away the requirement of two-way communication before a zero can be assigned:

SOURCE: https://mocoshow.com/2024/01/29/change-to-50-percent-rule-marks-shift-in-mcps-grading-trends/

This marking period, Whitman administrators began to roll out through department meetings a revised, county-wide grading policy, including new guidance regarding the current “50 percent” rule. The new rule, to go into effect in the second semester in MCPS, allows teachers to give students zeros for missing work provided that they contact the student’s guardians. Previously, MCPS administrators expected teachers to participate in two-way communication before assigning a zero, meaning they had to contact the student’s guardian and receive a response.

The change shortens the steps between a student missing an assignment and their receiving a zero and may substantially change the culture surrounding the 50 percent rule. The English department was the first at Whitman to receive the new rule via a summary sheet at their department meeting on Dec. 18. Administrators across MCPS are now circulating similar guides as the second semester approaches. In addition to the zero rule change, the new grading policy includes a commitment to clear reassessment opportunities and consistent grading between different sections of a class.

Following the policy announcement, the Montgomery County Education Association entered into negotiations with MCPS to ensure that teachers would not be reprimanded for potentially violating a mid-year policy change. MCPS officials agreed to continue the rollout but with teacher “coaching” as the aim until the 2024-2025 school year, MCEA confirmed in an email to members. Then, compliance will be mandatory.

It's confusing since this is a student journalist report if this is systemwide, but given the MCEA confirmation, it seems like it is. But why isn't MCPS communicating about this change systemwide? This is the kind of information that should be in the Things to Know messages.

Teachers on DCUM: Are all MCPS high schools making this shift? If so, does it look differently at your school versus what's described at Whitman?

Right like they know how to communicate on things that actually matter.

[Anonymous]

Contacting guardians? lol They don't even reply to emails!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Contacting guardians? lol They don't even reply to emails!

It'll be a mass communication we get 27 times.

[Anonymous]

Why can't MCPs figure out communications? Lordy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Contacting guardians? lol They don't even reply to emails!

It'll be a mass communication we get 27 times.

AND receive a response. If parents don't respond, what then?

[Anonymous]

This is so odd. Many of DC's teachers were already handing out 0s for missing assignments or late assignments.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Contacting guardians? lol They don't even reply to emails!

Most teachers will not email parents and only the good ones respond. We’ve only had one teacher email us but but they knew we were worried and it was to say our kind improves. But, they are a rare amazing teacher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Even within Blair, different departments are interpreting the rule differently."

https://silverchips.mbhs.edu/content/mcps-rolls-out-new-mid-year-regulations-allowing-zeros-to-return-to-gradebooks-36377/

*sigh*

This discretion that is afforded to different schools, let alone different departments in the same school, is one reason why MCPS is so dysfunctional and difficult for families to maneuver.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Contacting guardians? lol They don't even reply to emails!

It'll be a mass communication we get 27 times.

AND receive a response. If parents don't respond, what then?

That was the old rule. This new rule does not require a response from parents for the zero to be entered.

I still don't think most teachers will jump through the hoops to get a zero on a student's gradebook. So I think the 50% E will be the norm for the most part.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Even within Blair, different departments are interpreting the rule differently."

https://silverchips.mbhs.edu/content/mcps-rolls-out-new-mid-year-regulations-allowing-zeros-to-return-to-gradebooks-36377/

*sigh*

This discretion that is afforded to different schools, let alone different departments in the same school, is one reason why MCPS is so dysfunctional and difficult for families to maneuver.

There isn't "discretion". The regulation was changed in the fall to roll in and codify some of the changes implemented during the pandemic, to go back to some previous procedures, and to remove all links between attendance and grades per state level direction. Schools were directed to communicate with their communities directly.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/ikara.pdf

In our HS there has been a little too much flexibility and different teachers implemented certain things differently. Now there are some particular things that will be consistent per the regulation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Even within Blair, different departments are interpreting the rule differently."

https://silverchips.mbhs.edu/content/mcps-rolls-out-new-mid-year-regulations-allowing-zeros-to-return-to-gradebooks-36377/

*sigh*

This discretion that is afforded to different schools, let alone different departments in the same school, is one reason why MCPS is so dysfunctional and difficult for families to maneuver.

There isn't "discretion". The regulation was changed in the fall to roll in and codify some of the changes implemented during the pandemic, to go back to some previous procedures, and to remove all links between attendance and grades per state level direction. Schools were directed to communicate with their communities directly.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/ikara.pdf

In our HS there has been a little too much flexibility and different teachers implemented certain things differently. Now there are some particular things that will be consistent per the regulation.

What are those thiings?

And why let schools do this directly when it's a systemwide change and in an age where information flows freely and speedily, word will get out if one school publishes the news, as Whitman and Blair have, but others don't.

Why does MCPS suck at communications so bad? What is Chris Cram doing?

[Anonymous]

My kid got zeros on a few assignments with no communication from the teacher. There is no consistency in the way this is applied.

[Anonymous]

I overheard my Blair kid and a carpool friend talking about this on Friday. They were saying (amongst themselves) that they were fine with it and gossiping about how it would only impact a handful of kids.