Do you care about how semester grades will show up on your kids' transcript? Email the BOE ASAP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of us with high school students applying to college next year definitely care!

I'm the OP. What do you think the most equitable solution is? I think Howard County is assigning an A to a Pass and and then determine the semester grade per usual MCPS policy. So, a Q1 B and a Q2 Pass(A) would be an A. I like this idea since it gives the kids more time to bring up their grade. Not all students had equitable access to online learning and this levels the playing field a bit. I sort of like this idea.

Yes, but you only have to complete 50% to get that pass. It’s not even get 50% correct. Just attempt half.

Where did you see that had been decided?

[Anonymous]

Do y'all think college admissions officers live in some bubble and won't understand that spring 2020 grades are different? do you think that MCPS is the only affected district?

For those of you frustrated that the grades-as-people-sorter mechanism is not working well this semester -- please try to recalibrate.

This might be a good time to have your high-achievers meditate on, say, the relationship between school and education. Or, perhaps, the actual function of grades.

As almost-fun as it is to watch folks get indignant at the thought of our imagined meritocracy not functioning for a single second -- try to unclench. It is actually ok if everyone gets a freebie this time around.

It is actually decent and kind and one semester of grade amnesty sounds perfectly fine to me.

But if not to you, go ahead and start writing that essay to elite schools on why it's unfair. I'm sure that will go over GREAT with admissions.

[Anonymous]

I have a rising senior. I could not possibly care about any less right now. Colleges are aware that these are unprecedented times. My focus is 100% on keeping my family physically and mentally well. Nothing else matters.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like they won’t get grades for semester 2. This is such a bad outcome. They are rejecting an option for there to be a choice to have quarter 3 count or not count.

[Anonymous]

I get why some people don’t care. But some people do. I have a sophomore who worked really hard to bring up his quarter 3 grades from last semester. And he gets no credit for this. I would like quarter 3 to at least show up on the transcript. I don’t see why that can’t be optional.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of us with high school students applying to college next year definitely care!

I have a high school student applying to college next year, and I don't care. I have no idea what position I would want the BoE to take, and college admissions officers are going to have to be flexible for everyone everywhere, regardless.

+1 I don't understand why people think this "only" affects their child. This is nationwide folks -- colleges will adapt.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get why some people don’t care. But some people do. I have a sophomore who worked really hard to bring up his quarter 3 grades from last semester. And he gets no credit for this. I would like quarter 3 to at least show up on the transcript. I don’t see why that can’t be optional.

Has this already been decided?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get why some people don’t care. But some people do. I have a sophomore who worked really hard to bring up his quarter 3 grades from last semester. And he gets no credit for this. I would like quarter 3 to at least show up on the transcript. I don’t see why that can’t be optional.

Has this already been decided?

It is officially being voted on in May. But the preferred option put forward by MCPS to the BOE is that final grades for the semester would be credit/no credit. I would prefer that Q3 show up on the transcript personally but only final semester grades show up so it’s like it didn’t happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get why some people don’t care. But some people do. I have a sophomore who worked really hard to bring up his quarter 3 grades from last semester. And he gets no credit for this. I would like quarter 3 to at least show up on the transcript. I don’t see why that can’t be optional.

Has this already been decided?

The board is currently discussing this right now. There is a framework that is official, but the final policy decisions will be made on May 12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get why some people don’t care. But some people do. I have a sophomore who worked really hard to bring up his quarter 3 grades from last semester. And he gets no credit for this. I would like quarter 3 to at least show up on the transcript. I don’t see why that can’t be optional.

Has this already been decided?

The board is currently discussing this right now. There is a framework that is official, but the final policy decisions will be made on May 12.

But they usually go with what MCPS recommends. I plan to write them but I assume they will just adopt the recommendations.

[Anonymous]

Parent of current junior here. Parents of juniors very much do care about this topic. Yes, colleges understand the context of this semester. However, there are many colleges (esp large universities) that make decisions based on cumulative GPAs. And other colleges that especially look at upward trends. There are many juniors who will be hurt in the college admissions process if their third quarter grades are not shared with colleges, either by not being included on the transcript and/or not included in calculating the cumulative GPA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of current junior here. Parents of juniors very much do care about this topic. Yes, colleges understand the context of this semester. However, there are many colleges (esp large universities) that make decisions based on cumulative GPAs. And other colleges that especially look at upward trends. There are many juniors who will be hurt in the college admissions process if their third quarter grades are not shared with colleges, either by not being included on the transcript and/or not included in calculating the cumulative GPA.

So one quarter of missing grades will make or break admissions? I just find that hard to believe.

[Anonymous]

NO decision was made today in the BOE meeting. Options will be presented at the next BOE meeting on 5/12.

Sounded like MCPS is pushing:

MP3 - Letter Grade
MP4 - Pass or Incomplete
Semester - Credit/No Credit or Incomplete

2nd semester would not factor into GPA.

Some of the Board expressed the desire to give the students the option of Credit/No Credit or a letter grade.

[Anonymous]

I don't think this is that big of a deal in the end -- but why wouldn't they include the 3rd quarter grade in the GPA? What is the logic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Parent of current junior here. Parents of juniors very much do care about this topic. Yes, colleges understand the context of this semester. However, there are many colleges (esp large universities) that make decisions based on cumulative GPAs. And other colleges that especially look at upward trends. There are many juniors who will be hurt in the college admissions process if their third quarter grades are not shared with colleges, either by not being included on the transcript and/or not included in calculating the cumulative GPA.

Not next year, they won't.