APS Retake Policy change announced

[Anonymous]

My junior is concerned and I understand it. Changing the policy mid-year is stressful. Mine only has done a retake in one class before and the remediation was intense (like 3 hours of work). Mine is actually retaking a test this week to hopefully make their A higher for a buffer later on. The class does quizzes, but a lot of times they are turned back too late for a kid to know if they are on the right track. Yes. Mine is one that would remediate a B to get to an A, but not because of not studying. The class is new this year and there are growing pains for everyone.

[Anonymous]

My guess is that a lot of teachers were considering quitting mid-year. Everything they are being asked to do is just too much for them. Ten years ago quitting mid-year would have been incredibly bad form but now some teachers who stay actually applaud those who quit mid-year because it's so bad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked the policy. My senior failed 2 calculus tests initially, went over the mistakes with his teacher, studied again with a better knowledge, and got As. He wouldn't have mastered the content without the opportunity.

Is this pertaining to quizzes or exams? Or is it both?

DP. Summative means tests.

So in the above example, perhaps more quizzes along the way would have been beneficial to assess the student's understanding and need for reviewing mistakes with the teacher prior to the test. Math is a subject that warrants frequent evaluation and check-ins.

I'm the PP. Yes, more quizzes would have been better, but there are none in his class. Just 3 tests per quarter. And homework which is not graded (completion only) and is only due the day before the test. That is not how you learn calculus well. The retakes filled in the teaching gaps.

We have almost the exact situation in a language class. Only tests … and homework is not graded so guess what the kids don’t do it. Not a great way to reinforce learning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My junior is concerned and I understand it. Changing the policy mid-year is stressful. Mine only has done a retake in one class before and the remediation was intense (like 3 hours of work). Mine is actually retaking a test this week to hopefully make their A higher for a buffer later on. The class does quizzes, but a lot of times they are turned back too late for a kid to know if they are on the right track. Yes. Mine is one that would remediate a B to get to an A, but not because of not studying. The class is new this year and there are growing pains for everyone.

I think the reality that people need to start being more okay with is not every class is going to be an A.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My guess is that a lot of teachers were considering quitting mid-year. Everything they are being asked to do is just too much for them. Ten years ago quitting mid-year would have been incredibly bad form but now some teachers who stay actually applaud those who quit mid-year because it's so bad.

This. Anyone could see this was going to be bad idea when they drafted it last spring. But as usual, Syphax didn't listen. Now they have to change it mid-year because it's a ridiculous amount of work for teachers. The kids who want to retake are kids trying to raise from a B to an A. Teachers don't have time to help the kids who are below a B.

[Anonymous]

Fairfax permits retake to an 80 (B-) at teacher discretion. Alternative is to allow recovery points to a B- if you do better on that pet of the midterm/final. That is rational. Retake to an A is absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do they expect these children to survive college where there are No retake?

I had many classes on college that had "retakes". Basically, had to pass 101 of something in stem to make it to 201, ect. even with the ability to retake, they were screen out classes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I liked the policy. My senior failed 2 calculus tests initially, went over the mistakes with his teacher, studied again with a better knowledge, and got As. He wouldn't have mastered the content without the opportunity.

Is this pertaining to quizzes or exams? Or is it both?

DP. Summative means tests.

So in the above example, perhaps more quizzes along the way would have been beneficial to assess the student's understanding and need for reviewing mistakes with the teacher prior to the test. Math is a subject that warrants frequent evaluation and check-ins.

I'm the PP. Yes, more quizzes would have been better, but there are none in his class. Just 3 tests per quarter. And homework which is not graded (completion only) and is only due the day before the test. That is not how you learn calculus well. The retakes filled in the teaching gaps.

This is a big issue. DC's math teacher gives the kids the answer key and has said it will only be graded for completion. The teacher does not review the homework or correct any errors. If the kids don't catch their own mistakes and follow up with the teacher, all they are doing is practicing errors rather than learning.

[Anonymous]

The kids take advantage of these "perks." That's why they, mostly, don't sweat schoolwork. They know, in the end, the school/APS will give them the grades they want.

[Anonymous]

Is the reason homework is not graded because parents do the homework?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the reason homework is not graded because parents do the homework?

I’m not doing anybody’s calculus homework.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the reason homework is not graded because parents do the homework?

Unlikely. I'm not doing AP math classes. Pass.

[Anonymous]

Homework is not graded b/c classes are too big and teachers don't have time to grade all of it.

[Anonymous]

My question is -- how do colleges know how to weigh one school system vs another if one county allows retakes, which allows a B student to try for a A, and another doesn't? GPA is meaningless in these situations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the reason homework is not graded because parents do the homework?

No. It's been described as an equity issue. It's also why now grades in a class are skewed such that Summative assessments (i.e. tests) have far more weight than Formative (i.e. homework). APS doesn't want to disadvantage kids with home lives that aren't conducive to doing homework. Examples such as limited internet access, need to watch younger family members or hold after school jobs, and so on.