Help me understand the logic behind Weighting All Tasks/Assessments so heavily

[Anonymous]

Another reason private school is paying off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So at the high school level, MCPS weights All Tasks/Assessments at 90% and Practice/Prep at 10%. Not sure if this applies at MS as well.

I understand the motive behind this is to reduce the impact and influence that homework has on a student's grade, as I understand some in MCPS have come to believe that requiring homework for all students is unfair and unequitable, since not all students have the stability and support at home to do homework daily.

But 90% vs 10% seems unreasonably weighted, because if you don't practice, how can you expect to do well on assessments?

And unfortunately, the message kids receive (sometimes from teachers themselves!!!) is that they don't really need to worry about missing or skipping practice/prep assignments "since it's only 10%" of their grade. And with the automatic 50% rule, not doing those homework assignments doesn't tank their grade like if they were getting 0s for missing those assignments.

Even if I were to buy into the premise that classwork and assessments matter more than homework, the current weights seem off and self-defeating, since consistent prep and practice is key to developing and demonstrating mastery on assessments. So why not do 80% All Tasks/Assessments and 20% Prep/Practice. Or why not 70/30 split?

Just looking for context and history here behind this decision and what evidence was used to decide on the 90/10 split.

Seems like a fine policy to me. My kids have plenty of homework. They didn't always do it in ES since it was often unnecessary and amounted to busy work, but by MS they seem to benefit from it and are doing great.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is how it works in most university level classes. Homework is essential to do, but worth a small percentage of grades. It makes sense to me, as tests actually measure a students ability. On homework, you expect the student gets some help.

I know! I'm so grateful MCPS is preparing my kids for college and beyond!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So at the high school level, MCPS weights All Tasks/Assessments at 90% and Practice/Prep at 10%. Not sure if this applies at MS as well.

I understand the motive behind this is to reduce the impact and influence that homework has on a student's grade, as I understand some in MCPS have come to believe that requiring homework for all students is unfair and unequitable, since not all students have the stability and support at home to do homework daily.

But 90% vs 10% seems unreasonably weighted, because if you don't practice, how can you expect to do well on assessments?

And unfortunately, the message kids receive (sometimes from teachers themselves!!!) is that they don't really need to worry about missing or skipping practice/prep assignments "since it's only 10%" of their grade. And with the automatic 50% rule, not doing those homework assignments doesn't tank their grade like if they were getting 0s for missing those assignments.

Even if I were to buy into the premise that classwork and assessments matter more than homework, the current weights seem off and self-defeating, since consistent prep and practice is key to developing and demonstrating mastery on assessments. So why not do 80% All Tasks/Assessments and 20% Prep/Practice. Or why not 70/30 split?

Just looking for context and history here behind this decision and what evidence was used to decide on the 90/10 split.

Seems like a fine policy to me. My kids have plenty of homework. They didn't always do it in ES since it was often unnecessary and amounted to busy work, but by MS they seem to benefit from it and are doing great.

Huh? You didn't even address the issues raised by the policy but just came to say it was great and that they benefitted from homework, which pretty much contradicts the 10% weight they're putting on it. If it's so beneficial, it would factor into their grade more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is how it works in most university level classes. Homework is essential to do, but worth a small percentage of grades. It makes sense to me, as tests actually measure a students ability. On homework, you expect the student gets some help.

I know! I'm so grateful MCPS is preparing my kids for college and beyond!

If you think the way MCPS works today mirrors the way colleges work, then I question if you've been to college at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is how it works in most university level classes. Homework is essential to do, but worth a small percentage of grades. It makes sense to me, as tests actually measure a students ability. On homework, you expect the student gets some help.

I know! I'm so grateful MCPS is preparing my kids for college and beyond!

Only difference is universities actually have midterms and finals...a glaring omission at MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Because a kid who copies every single practice assignment and fails every assessment should not be passing the class.

.90(minimum 50)=45
.10(copied everything) =10

45+10=55, F.

If you cannot demonstrate content mastery on tests, quizzes, in class timed writings, etc then you should not pass no matter how much practice you did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So at the high school level, MCPS weights All Tasks/Assessments at 90% and Practice/Prep at 10%. Not sure if this applies at MS as well.

I understand the motive behind this is to reduce the impact and influence that homework has on a student's grade, as I understand some in MCPS have come to believe that requiring homework for all students is unfair and unequitable, since not all students have the stability and support at home to do homework daily.

But 90% vs 10% seems unreasonably weighted, because if you don't practice, how can you expect to do well on assessments?

And unfortunately, the message kids receive (sometimes from teachers themselves!!!) is that they don't really need to worry about missing or skipping practice/prep assignments "since it's only 10%" of their grade. And with the automatic 50% rule, not doing those homework assignments doesn't tank their grade like if they were getting 0s for missing those assignments.

Even if I were to buy into the premise that classwork and assessments matter more than homework, the current weights seem off and self-defeating, since consistent prep and practice is key to developing and demonstrating mastery on assessments. So why not do 80% All Tasks/Assessments and 20% Prep/Practice. Or why not 70/30 split?

Just looking for context and history here behind this decision and what evidence was used to decide on the 90/10 split.

Seems like a fine policy to me. My kids have plenty of homework. They didn't always do it in ES since it was often unnecessary and amounted to busy work, but by MS they seem to benefit from it and are doing great.

Huh? You didn't even address the issues raised by the policy but just came to say it was great and that they benefitted from homework, which pretty much contradicts the 10% weight they're putting on it. If it's so beneficial, it would factor into their grade more.

Not the PP but tt does factor into the grade more. By doing the homework you improve your understanding of the material and do better on the test.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is how it works in most university level classes. Homework is essential to do, but worth a small percentage of grades. It makes sense to me, as tests actually measure a students ability. On homework, you expect the student gets some help.

I know! I'm so grateful MCPS is preparing my kids for college and beyond!

Only difference is universities actually have midterms and finals...a glaring omission at MCPS.

This. My DH used to tutor and would get a lot of requests from college students right after midterms. Most of the time, the students had failed the midterm and panicked. My DH would ask about the weight of the midterm before deciding to accept the student. Many of them just had no experience taking cumulative exams so they didn't know how to study for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So at the high school level, MCPS weights All Tasks/Assessments at 90% and Practice/Prep at 10%. Not sure if this applies at MS as well.

I understand the motive behind this is to reduce the impact and influence that homework has on a student's grade, as I understand some in MCPS have come to believe that requiring homework for all students is unfair and unequitable, since not all students have the stability and support at home to do homework daily.

But 90% vs 10% seems unreasonably weighted, because if you don't practice, how can you expect to do well on assessments?

And unfortunately, the message kids receive (sometimes from teachers themselves!!!) is that they don't really need to worry about missing or skipping practice/prep assignments "since it's only 10%" of their grade. And with the automatic 50% rule, not doing those homework assignments doesn't tank their grade like if they were getting 0s for missing those assignments.

Even if I were to buy into the premise that classwork and assessments matter more than homework, the current weights seem off and self-defeating, since consistent prep and practice is key to developing and demonstrating mastery on assessments. So why not do 80% All Tasks/Assessments and 20% Prep/Practice. Or why not 70/30 split?

Just looking for context and history here behind this decision and what evidence was used to decide on the 90/10 split.

Seems like a fine policy to me. My kids have plenty of homework. They didn't always do it in ES since it was often unnecessary and amounted to busy work, but by MS they seem to benefit from it and are doing great.

Huh? You didn't even address the issues raised by the policy but just came to say it was great and that they benefitted from homework, which pretty much contradicts the 10% weight they're putting on it. If it's so beneficial, it would factor into their grade more.

Not the PP but tt does factor into the grade more. By doing the homework you improve your understanding of the material and do better on the test.

OP here. You're right, in theory, and with mature, thoughtful people, that logic holds up.

But kids aren't making that calculation. And sadly, the source of this is coming from teachers. When they miss or neglect to turn in assignments in the prep/practice category, teachers tell them NOT to worry about making it up and turning it in, "because it's only 10% of their grade." I've literally had arguments with my kids over this who parrot this exact logic. If the weight was more than 10%, kids would know to take it more seriously, and honestly, they're not wrong.

If it's that important, it really should be weighted as more than 10% of your grade. Frankly, I don't understand why participation isn't factored into grades as it is in college either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is how it works in most university level classes. Homework is essential to do, but worth a small percentage of grades. It makes sense to me, as tests actually measure a students ability. On homework, you expect the student gets some help.

I know! I'm so grateful MCPS is preparing my kids for college and beyond!

Only difference is universities actually have midterms and finals...a glaring omission at MCPS.

This. My DH used to tutor and would get a lot of requests from college students right after midterms. Most of the time, the students had failed the midterm and panicked. My DH would ask about the weight of the midterm before deciding to accept the student. Many of them just had no experience taking cumulative exams so they didn't know how to study for them.

We used to have finals when I was an MCPS high school student. Why did MCPS get rid of them? I can see not doing them in 9th and 10th grade, but I think it's very helpful to have finals for juniors and seniors, the majority of whom are going to deal with them in college.

[Anonymous]

After reading this thread, it sounds like MCPS has the perfect policy regarding homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is how it works in most university level classes. Homework is essential to do, but worth a small percentage of grades. It makes sense to me, as tests actually measure a students ability. On homework, you expect the student gets some help.

I know! I'm so grateful MCPS is preparing my kids for college and beyond!

Only difference is universities actually have midterms and finals...a glaring omission at MCPS.

This. My DH used to tutor and would get a lot of requests from college students right after midterms. Most of the time, the students had failed the midterm and panicked. My DH would ask about the weight of the midterm before deciding to accept the student. Many of them just had no experience taking cumulative exams so they didn't know how to study for them.

We used to have finals when I was an MCPS high school student. Why did MCPS get rid of them? I can see not doing them in 9th and 10th grade, but I think it's very helpful to have finals for juniors and seniors, the majority of whom are going to deal with them in college.

They were eliminated in 2015, against the wishes of teachers.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2015/11/11/despite-opposition-from-teachers-board-of-education-drops-final-exams/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is how it works in most university level classes. Homework is essential to do, but worth a small percentage of grades. It makes sense to me, as tests actually measure a students ability. On homework, you expect the student gets some help.

I know! I'm so grateful MCPS is preparing my kids for college and beyond!

Only difference is universities actually have midterms and finals...a glaring omission at MCPS.

This. My DH used to tutor and would get a lot of requests from college students right after midterms. Most of the time, the students had failed the midterm and panicked. My DH would ask about the weight of the midterm before deciding to accept the student. Many of them just had no experience taking cumulative exams so they didn't know how to study for them.

We used to have finals when I was an MCPS high school student. Why did MCPS get rid of them? I can see not doing them in 9th and 10th grade, but I think it's very helpful to have finals for juniors and seniors, the majority of whom are going to deal with them in college.

They were eliminated in 2015, against the wishes of teachers.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2015/11/11/despite-opposition-from-teachers-board-of-education-drops-final-exams/

Anyone who wants finals can take APs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is how it works in most university level classes. Homework is essential to do, but worth a small percentage of grades. It makes sense to me, as tests actually measure a students ability. On homework, you expect the student gets some help.

I know! I'm so grateful MCPS is preparing my kids for college and beyond!

Only difference is universities actually have midterms and finals...a glaring omission at MCPS.

This. My DH used to tutor and would get a lot of requests from college students right after midterms. Most of the time, the students had failed the midterm and panicked. My DH would ask about the weight of the midterm before deciding to accept the student. Many of them just had no experience taking cumulative exams so they didn't know how to study for them.

We used to have finals when I was an MCPS high school student. Why did MCPS get rid of them? I can see not doing them in 9th and 10th grade, but I think it's very helpful to have finals for juniors and seniors, the majority of whom are going to deal with them in college.

They were eliminated in 2015, against the wishes of teachers.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2015/11/11/despite-opposition-from-teachers-board-of-education-drops-final-exams/

Anyone who wants finals can take APs.

There are plenty of students who don’t take AP classes on HS but go on to college. Those kids will have no experience with cumulative exams. I guess MCPS doesn’t care about sending prepared students to college.