This high school test retake policy is wild

[Anonymous]

My sophomore got an 85 on her first Chem HN test, and the teacher told her to retake it for up to 100%. So clearly, not all teachers hate the policy.

[Anonymous]

My student is at McLean HS and their science and math teachers have said that only one re take will be given per quarter. The retake will cover all unit tests from that quarter. So I assume(as I do not know for sure) that if they get a higher grade on the retake that it replaces all unit test grades(or the ones that were lower). I am not quite sure how this fits with policy but that is what is happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those of you letting your kids who already got an A do a retake to get a higher A should be ashamed of yourselves. I’m not a teacher but I know they are barely hanging on at this point. Adding to their grading burden for no valid reason is truly obnoxious behavior. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Try teaching that to your kids instead of raising little grade grubbers.

Well, there is a reason. It’s to increase grades and ensure no failures. It certainly isn’t to help the kids.

A grades mean very little now because everybody has them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Those of you letting your kids who already got an A do a retake to get a higher A should be ashamed of yourselves. I’m not a teacher but I know they are barely hanging on at this point. Adding to their grading burden for no valid reason is truly obnoxious behavior. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. Try teaching that to your kids instead of raising little grade grubbers.

Well, there is a reason. It’s to increase grades and ensure no failures. It certainly isn’t to help the kids.

A grades mean very little now because everybody has them.

Which also means you look like a dummy if you don't have it so may as well do what is needed to get it the A.

Reminds me of National Honor Society. Everyone is in it, so it has no value to colleges. However, if you're not in it it looks weird, because everyone is in it. So then college wonder what is wrong with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sophomore got an 85 on her first Chem HN test, and the teacher told her to retake it for up to 100%. So clearly, not all teachers hate the policy.

Just because the teacher mentioned the policy, that doesn’t mean the teacher supports it.

Districts force teachers to follow plenty of policies they don’t agree with. It’s one of the main reasons I quit teaching. I was tired of following policies I thought were detrimental to my students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sophomore got an 85 on her first Chem HN test, and the teacher told her to retake it for up to 100%. So clearly, not all teachers hate the policy.

Just because the teacher mentioned the policy, that doesn’t mean the teacher supports it.

Districts force teachers to follow plenty of policies they don’t agree with. It’s one of the main reasons I quit teaching. I was tired of following policies I thought were detrimental to my students.

Not OP but if I was a teacher and did not agree with the policy I certainly wouldn't be telling kids to use it. If they came to me, of course I would have to comply but I wouldn't advertise it and recommend it be used.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sophomore got an 85 on her first Chem HN test, and the teacher told her to retake it for up to 100%. So clearly, not all teachers hate the policy.

Just because the teacher mentioned the policy, that doesn’t mean the teacher supports it.

Districts force teachers to follow plenty of policies they don’t agree with. It’s one of the main reasons I quit teaching. I was tired of following policies I thought were detrimental to my students.

Not OP but if I was a teacher and did not agree with the policy I certainly wouldn't be telling kids to use it. If they came to me, of course I would have to comply but I wouldn't advertise it and recommend it be used.

Teachers at some schools may be mandated to mention it. I’ve worked at schools that had to have info like that on our websites, our syllabi, etc.

Teachers have very little autonomy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I mean, there’s literally no risk for them. They don’t have to study (they clearly know the material already), they can do it during the remediation block so they don’t have to stay after school, and if it’s a worse grade it doesn’t go in the gradebook and the original one stands. I don’t blame them.

OTOH, it’s a boat load of work for teachers to grade half the tests over again.

There is a risk in that they get a lower grade and my child’s teacher has been clear that the retake will be much harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to end retakes completely. It's an unfair demand on teachers and it makes GPAs meaningless.

Everyone on here crying about retakes are the same people who have their kids take the SAT/ACT 2+ times to improve and/or superscore. Is the score meaningless?

Now watch them twist themselves into knots to justify it.

I'm not anti-retakes, at least for certain grades. But I do think the policy of letting kids scoreup to 100% on retakes, rather than 80 or 90% is entirely unworkable for teachers and creates more anxiety and pressure and kids that will retake a low A just to get a higher A.

SAT/ACT should say you only get 1 chance but if you score below 1340 or 29 you can retake once, but only up to 1340 or 29.

Surely you can grasp the difference between a test kids take 2-3 times ever and that the testing body is paid for each time kids take it vs the constant year in year out dynamics of HS grades and the added work that pours onto teachers already overworked.

The arguments consist mostly of people saying a retake doesn't prepare the kids for the real world (which is false you can retake most anything), doesn't prepare them for college, creates bad habits, makes the A "meaningless," makes it harder to get into UVA and other coveted colleges, etc . . . no one complaining cares about the teachers, I assure you, except teachers.

Every single complaint can be said for repeated SAT/ACT and superscoring but never is.

If a surgeon makes a mistake, it's generally too late for a retake.

If a truck driver makes a mistake and crashes into someone, it's generally too late for a retake.

If someone is caught committing a crime, it's generally too late for a "retake."

If a trial attorney does a poor job prosecuting or defending, it's generally too late for a do-over.

If a homeowner forgets to turn off the power before changing an outlet, it's generally too late for a re-do.

There are countless other examples to discredit your claim that in real life, you can retake almost everything.

I promise you the doctor, truck driver, and lawyer could take the LSAT, MCAT, bar exam, Boards, and drivera licensing multiple times. But keep being loud and wrong.

Much Ado about Nothing – Act 1, Scene 1. Lines: 56

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the policy. My kid jwho is a unior has an uw 4.0. She says she will retake anything below 93.5. She's a good student and if that makes her happy so be it. I like the determination.

But it permissive cheating really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sophomore got an 85 on her first Chem HN test, and the teacher told her to retake it for up to 100%. So clearly, not all teachers hate the policy.

Just because the teacher mentioned the policy, that doesn’t mean the teacher supports it.

Districts force teachers to follow plenty of policies they don’t agree with. It’s one of the main reasons I quit teaching. I was tired of following policies I thought were detrimental to my students.

Not OP but if I was a teacher and did not agree with the policy I certainly wouldn't be telling kids to use it. If they came to me, of course I would have to comply but I wouldn't advertise it and recommend it be used.

Teachers at some schools may be mandated to mention it. I’ve worked at schools that had to have info like that on our websites, our syllabi, etc.

Teachers have very little autonomy.

Very different from telling a child to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sophomore got an 85 on her first Chem HN test, and the teacher told her to retake it for up to 100%. So clearly, not all teachers hate the policy.

Just because the teacher mentioned the policy, that doesn’t mean the teacher supports it.

Districts force teachers to follow plenty of policies they don’t agree with. It’s one of the main reasons I quit teaching. I was tired of following policies I thought were detrimental to my students.

Not OP but if I was a teacher and did not agree with the policy I certainly wouldn't be telling kids to use it. If they came to me, of course I would have to comply but I wouldn't advertise it and recommend it be used.

Teachers at some schools may be mandated to mention it. I’ve worked at schools that had to have info like that on our websites, our syllabi, etc.

Teachers have very little autonomy.

Very different from telling a child to do it.

My point still stands. If teachers are told that the retakes are a requirement, then they have no choice but to advertise it in various ways.

Teachers don’t get a ton of say. The district dictates, and the teachers deliver. That’s how it works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sophomore got an 85 on her first Chem HN test, and the teacher told her to retake it for up to 100%. So clearly, not all teachers hate the policy.

Just because the teacher mentioned the policy, that doesn’t mean the teacher supports it.

Districts force teachers to follow plenty of policies they don’t agree with. It’s one of the main reasons I quit teaching. I was tired of following policies I thought were detrimental to my students.

Not OP but if I was a teacher and did not agree with the policy I certainly wouldn't be telling kids to use it. If they came to me, of course I would have to comply but I wouldn't advertise it and recommend it be used.

Teachers at some schools may be mandated to mention it. I’ve worked at schools that had to have info like that on our websites, our syllabi, etc.

Teachers have very little autonomy.

Very different from telling a child to do it.

My point still stands. If teachers are told that the retakes are a requirement, then they have no choice but to advertise it in various ways.

Teachers don’t get a ton of say. The district dictates, and the teachers deliver. That’s how it works.

I “advertise” policies by putting them in my syllabus as required and posting the syllabus in Schoology. If kids and parents don’t read it and know the policies, that’s on them. I’m not chasing down a kid who got an 89 to ask does he want a retake. The kid has to want it. And yes, the retake would be much harder to weed out grade grubbers trying to get a measly 1-2 points higher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I mean, there’s literally no risk for them. They don’t have to study (they clearly know the material already), they can do it during the remediation block so they don’t have to stay after school, and if it’s a worse grade it doesn’t go in the gradebook and the original one stands. I don’t blame them.

OTOH, it’s a boat load of work for teachers to grade half the tests over again.

There is a risk in that they get a lower grade and my child’s teacher has been clear that the retake will be much harder.

But then the original grade stands. FCPS central office was VERY clear to staff on this policy at the beginning of the year (to prevent what you are saying, discouraging kids from even trying by making the retake insanely hard). If you are encountering teachers who are dropping grades after students struggle on a punitively hard retake, you should be reaching out.

--teacher (who doesn't love the policy, but if we are going to do it we should all do it the same way)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They need to end retakes completely. It's an unfair demand on teachers and it makes GPAs meaningless.

Everyone on here crying about retakes are the same people who have their kids take the SAT/ACT 2+ times to improve and/or superscore. Is the score meaningless?

Now watch them twist themselves into knots to justify it.

I'm not anti-retakes, at least for certain grades. But I do think the policy of letting kids scoreup to 100% on retakes, rather than 80 or 90% is entirely unworkable for teachers and creates more anxiety and pressure and kids that will retake a low A just to get a higher A.

SAT/ACT should say you only get 1 chance but if you score below 1340 or 29 you can retake once, but only up to 1340 or 29.

Surely you can grasp the difference between a test kids take 2-3 times ever and that the testing body is paid for each time kids take it vs the constant year in year out dynamics of HS grades and the added work that pours onto teachers already overworked.

The arguments consist mostly of people saying a retake doesn't prepare the kids for the real world (which is false you can retake most anything), doesn't prepare them for college, creates bad habits, makes the A "meaningless," makes it harder to get into UVA and other coveted colleges, etc . . . no one complaining cares about the teachers, I assure you, except teachers.

Every single complaint can be said for repeated SAT/ACT and superscoring but never is.

If a surgeon makes a mistake, it's generally too late for a retake.

If a truck driver makes a mistake and crashes into someone, it's generally too late for a retake.

If someone is caught committing a crime, it's generally too late for a "retake."

If a trial attorney does a poor job prosecuting or defending, it's generally too late for a do-over.

If a homeowner forgets to turn off the power before changing an outlet, it's generally too late for a re-do.

There are countless other examples to discredit your claim that in real life, you can retake almost everything.

I promise you the doctor, truck driver, and lawyer could take the LSAT, MCAT, bar exam, Boards, and drivera licensing multiple times. But keep being loud and wrong.

Much Ado about Nothing – Act 1, Scene 1. Lines: 56

The point is retakes are not allowed in college, and by the time kids get to high school we should be preparing them for college. Also, if I'm hiring a lawyer or choosing a doctor, I want the one that knows how to get something right the first time.

My kids are at a school with a stupid SBG policy. I've seen firsthand how this leads to sloth in that it does not create an environment where kids cultivate organizational and time management skills. Instead, we have an increase in absences and lower test score. Everything FCPS is quietly implementing (retakes) and doing away with (homework) is the opposite of what kids need in order to prepare them for the demands of real life.

If you want your kid to have a decent education now in Fairfax County, you have to send them to private school. This was not the case before Covid. Fortunately, there are other places in the country that are taking the opposite approach. My nieces & nephews live in one such place, and these middle schoolers have homework, text books, and traditional grading at a public school. If every school was taking the FCPS approach, it would have serious consequences for the future of this country.

- just a parent with a kid that got a B at an SBG school, only to find out kid knows nothing about the subject.