Reply to APS Retake Policy change announced

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Reply to "APS Retake Policy change announced"

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]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. [/quote]

+1.  This is the stated aim of the policy.  Understand completely what the negatives are, and especially why it's unpopular with some teachers.  It's the changing of it halfway through a school year that should not be allowed.  There are kids, mine included, who made a decision to stay in a class instead of dropping it, partly because of this policy - in fact it was his teacher who pointed it out and encouraged him to stay.  That decision impacts the entire school year.  Fine if you want to change this - can definitely see pros and cons.  But what other policy has APS ever approved in June for the following school year and then changed halfway through? [/quote]

So your issue with the mid-year change is that your kid might not be able to get an A in the class now?
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No. He was probably destined for a B anyway.  My issue is that grading policies should not change halfway through a school year. This is particularly impactful for juniors. There is nothing in the original policy implementation document from June that said APS would assess after first semester and reserve the right to change it at any time.

Have to assume you are the parent of a straight A student based on this remark.  Would you be okay if halfway through the school year they made, say, a different policy change -- maybe one that changed the grading scale and lowered GPA's for the second half of a school year?  Probably not.  The merits of grading scales and policies can and should be argued.  But once they are approved, they should not be changed in the middle of a school year.  [/quote]

Not sure why you have to assume that; but actually, a parent of one straight-A student and one all over the board C-average (largely due to not submitting work, giving minimum effort) student.

This change does not actually lower anyone's GPA. It might lower some students' potential GPA by limiting their ability to re-take and get A's instead of B's. But it doesn't change any GPA already earned. Those getting below B's can still strive for B's. 
From a straight/mostly straight-A student perspective: this is a fairer policy in that those who earn their A's the first time aren't viewed as the same/get the same recognitions as those who didn't. It's really just the "B" students who potentially "suffer" under the change.

I am sympathetic to students who work hard the whole way through and just need extra time/instruction/practice to master material. I am less sympathetic for students who just aren't managing their time well and don't turn in assignments or don't turn them in on time, or just rely on re-takes to get better grades.  The former is who the policy is really intended for. Despite the typical Arlington parent perspective, B students are still able to be quite successful in life even if they don't get accepted by one of the most elite institutions. Hence my quotes around "suffer" above.
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