What's the latest on the 50% rule? Can someone point me to the most recent documentation?

[Anonymous]

Don't need to debate the merits of it. BTDT but need guidance on current state of the rules. The news reports are really confusing.

[Anonymous]

No one knows?

[Anonymous]

At Einstein’s BTSN all teachers were very clear this is no more - if a student doesn’t do an assignment, they earn a zero.

[Anonymous]

My DC in middle school just had a 50% posted for an assignment we know they did not do.

[Anonymous]

It depends on the admin of each school. High school seems to be following the new policy which allows grades between 0-50. Middle schools (mine) still follow the 50%.

[Anonymous]

Honestly, it still seems to be in effect, at least by default for my kid in Canvas. When assignments aren't turned in, it defaults to the 50% rule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At Einstein’s BTSN all teachers were very clear this is no more - if a student doesn’t do an assignment, they earn a zero.

It depends on the teacher. Some of ours are no more 50% rule and no more redo's and others were more flexible. Its not really fair there is no consistent policy.

[Anonymous]

This is what the regulation now says:

8. The following grading practices are prohibited:

a) Awarding extra credit and/or bonus points in any manner.
b) Forcing grades into a normal frequency distribution or any other kind of curve that compares students in relation to others.
c) Establishing rating scales that compare students in relation to others (sliding scales are not permitted).
d) Assigning a grade lower than 50 percent to a task/assessment. However, if a student does no work on the task/assessment, the teacher will assign a zero. If a teacher determines the student did not attempt to meet the basic requirements of the task/assessment or the student engaged in academic dishonesty, the teacher may assign a zero.
e) Assigning any single task/assessment that counts for more than 25 percent of the marking period grade.

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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't need to debate the merits of it. BTDT but need guidance on current state of the rules. The news reports are really confusing.

Don't think this really matters except for F students.

[Anonymous]

It matters because it's being inconsistently applied. They need to provide guidance on how it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It matters because it's being inconsistently applied. They need to provide guidance on how it works.

They don't need guidance. The language in the regulation is clear. Central office and principals need to be conducting oversight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It matters because it's being inconsistently applied. They need to provide guidance on how it works.

That's odd because it was phased out a year or more ago.

[Anonymous]

Also, if your students can't get off their phone and don't do their school work admin blames and retaliates against the teachers for these type of systemic issues. I don't recommend this profession. I think this is why many of us are leaving education as we feel like we are not respected, protected, or valued.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DC in middle school just had a 50% posted for an assignment we know they did not do.

Yes, was checking grades in parentvue and asked "um, how did you get a 50 on an assignment in world studies" and the answer was oh, I haven't turned that in yet, I'm turning it in today."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DC in middle school just had a 50% posted for an assignment we know they did not do.

Yes, was checking grades in parentvue and asked "um, how did you get a 50 on an assignment in world studies" and the answer was oh, I haven't turned that in yet, I'm turning it in today."

Yup. I'm one of the PPs who said the same thing. The 50% rule is definitely not dead yet.