Teachers violating new grading policies

[Anonymous]

Someone posted the new policy and I realized DD's teachers are violating a ton of them. Who do I address this to?
I think all parents should read the new policy and make sure teachers are implementing them correctly.

For example, 50% and zero rules:

Q: Are teachers required to contact caregivers before assigning a zero or 50%?
A: While direct communication with caregivers is not required before assigning a zero or
50%, it is strongly encouraged as part of a supportive and collaborative approach to
student learning. According to the Regulation, teachers are responsible for documenting
communication with students and families about missing assignments, (IKA-RA,pg. 10)
In addition, before assigning a zero, teachers must document the support and/or
interventions they make available to the student. (IKA-RA,pg. 11) These efforts may
include:
● In-class or out-of-class support
● Reteaching and reassessment (when appropriate)
● Communication with the student, parent/guardian, or counselor
Last Updated: 08/08/2025 6
● If prior efforts are unsuccessful, communication with school administration

Q: What happens if a student does not turn in an assignment?
A: A “Z” is entered in the gradebook, signaling the work is missing but can still be
submitted. If the student does not complete the assignment by the deadline after support
is provided, the teacher will change the “Z” to a zero.




One-pager on the new grading policy:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteasset...evisions-sy25-26.pdf

Q&A on the new grading policy:
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteasset...nd-reporting-faq.pdf

[Anonymous]

How are they violating the policy? It does not say that teachers need to do all of those things listed.

Do you not have access to your DD's grades? Are you telling me that the teacher never told your child that they are getting a zero? Are you telling me that she didn't know that she didn't turn in an assignment?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How are they violating the policy? It does not say that teachers need to do all of those things listed.

Do you not have access to your DD's grades? Are you telling me that the teacher never told your child that they are getting a zero? Are you telling me that she didn't know that she didn't turn in an assignment?

+1

And at the end of the grading period there is this “claim?” Interims were the time to question the teacher’s grading policies if you felt they differed.

Did your child advocate? Did you speak to their grade level counselor? Did you speak to the teacher? Did you check the grades? I mean so many things to do before coming here.

Or did you come here to complain? Because no one can help you here.

You and your child have to do the hard part and ask the teacher yourself.

[Anonymous]

If my kid wasn’t turning in work, I think my last concern would be what the teacher is or isn’t doing. I’d be looking into what is causing the failure in my kid’s part and how to remediate it.

[Anonymous]

How in the world are teachers supposed to do all of that?

[Anonymous]

Are teachers really told to do all that? My kid has an 89 in one class that would be a 90 or above (an A) except for 1 missing assignment early in the school year where they failed to upload an assignment due to a tech issue, and the teacher refused to accept it via hard copy the next day.

If this new policy is supposed to be enacted, the teacher didn’t follow the appropriate rules for communication, because I never saw a “z” and they never sent a message about this.

[Anonymous]

What exactly is the teacher not doing? You didn't mention anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are teachers really told to do all that? My kid has an 89 in one class that would be a 90 or above (an A) except for 1 missing assignment early in the school year where they failed to upload an assignment due to a tech issue, and the teacher refused to accept it via hard copy the next day.

If this new policy is supposed to be enacted, the teacher didn’t follow the appropriate rules for communication, because I never saw a “z” and they never sent a message about this.

Because it’s not required. It’s guidance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are teachers really told to do all that? My kid has an 89 in one class that would be a 90 or above (an A) except for 1 missing assignment early in the school year where they failed to upload an assignment due to a tech issue, and the teacher refused to accept it via hard copy the next day.

If this new policy is supposed to be enacted, the teacher didn’t follow the appropriate rules for communication, because I never saw a “z” and they never sent a message about this.

Did your child simply email the assignment with a brief note that it wouldn’t upload?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are teachers really told to do all that? My kid has an 89 in one class that would be a 90 or above (an A) except for 1 missing assignment early in the school year where they failed to upload an assignment due to a tech issue, and the teacher refused to accept it via hard copy the next day.

If this new policy is supposed to be enacted, the teacher didn’t follow the appropriate rules for communication, because I never saw a “z” and they never sent a message about this.

Did your child simply email the assignment with a brief note that it wouldn’t upload?

No because as mentioned there was a tech issue. Handing a hard copy in the day after when technology fails should be sufficient evidence of intent particularly when teachers are given guidance telling them to communicate with parents and students to avoid giving students zeros.

[Anonymous]

Maybe posting grades in Canvas counts as parent communication? Also, maybe all-class announcements count as student communication?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like your kid is at Einstein like mine. All but 1 teacher follow the new policy for my kid. The AP Govt teacher is the worst offender.

I’m so tired of complaining to the principal and super about all the ways MCPS says one thing and does another

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are teachers really told to do all that? My kid has an 89 in one class that would be a 90 or above (an A) except for 1 missing assignment early in the school year where they failed to upload an assignment due to a tech issue, and the teacher refused to accept it via hard copy the next day.

If this new policy is supposed to be enacted, the teacher didn’t follow the appropriate rules for communication, because I never saw a “z” and they never sent a message about this.

Did your child simply email the assignment with a brief note that it wouldn’t upload?

No because as mentioned there was a tech issue. Handing a hard copy in the day after when technology fails should be sufficient evidence of intent particularly when teachers are given guidance telling them to communicate with parents and students to avoid giving students zeros.

And emailing when the online submission didn’t work seems to be a perfectly reasonable plan. And since you are concerned about intent, that would show the assignment was actually done on time instead of at school the following day.

Your child is responsible for one person. The teacher is responsible for north of 100. It makes more sense for your child (and you, I suppose) to stay on top of your work than to expect a teacher to do that for you.

[Anonymous]

There are plenty of clear policies that many aren’t doing.

For example, providing at least 9 all task assignments per quarter.

No recourse apparently

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are teachers really told to do all that? My kid has an 89 in one class that would be a 90 or above (an A) except for 1 missing assignment early in the school year where they failed to upload an assignment due to a tech issue, and the teacher refused to accept it via hard copy the next day.

If this new policy is supposed to be enacted, the teacher didn’t follow the appropriate rules for communication, because I never saw a “z” and they never sent a message about this.

Did your child simply email the assignment with a brief note that it wouldn’t upload?

No because as mentioned there was a tech issue. Handing a hard copy in the day after when technology fails should be sufficient evidence of intent particularly when teachers are given guidance telling them to communicate with parents and students to avoid giving students zeros.

And emailing when the online submission didn’t work seems to be a perfectly reasonable plan. And since you are concerned about intent, that would show the assignment was actually done on time instead of at school the following day.

Your child is responsible for one person. The teacher is responsible for north of 100. It makes more sense for your child (and you, I suppose) to stay on top of your work than to expect a teacher to do that for you.

It’s only a reasonable plan if are determined to assign blame to the student in all cases and don’t care to understand that the MCPS issued laptop wasn’t turning on at all and needed to be fixed by the school the following day.

Students need to hand in assignments on time, but teachers are supposed to communicate and not throw zeros at students where there might be a legitimate excuse.