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.

Anonymous wrote:My understanding is GPA will stay neutral as long as you have a pass.
My DD is disappointed for the wasted good grades.

So she doesn’t intrinsically value education?

Or are good grades something that she doesn’t often experience?

I should at least see what they propose before I protest.

Anonymous wrote:^^ your junior clearly not applying to highly competitive colleges...

The college admissions offices at highly competitive colleges are going to have to figure out some way to make admissions decisions. It's not like they're going to say, well, we're not admitting anyone from MCPS this year because of that weird way they calculated the semester grades for second semester during the pandemic. The second-semester grades will be weird for every student in the US. Or really, for almost every student in the world.

Anonymous wrote:Do I care? No, I don't.

Uhh you care enough to make a comment smart ass

It doesn't matter what is decided. The entire nation's worth of high school students will forever have an * next to spring 2020, meaning who the heck knows what, if any meaning this has. Colleges will look at everything else, except this spring.

My understanding is GPA will stay neutral as long as you have a pass.
My DD is disappointed for the wasted good grades.

History indicates they’ll err on the side of grade inflation.

So no worries, parents of seniors.

^^ your junior clearly not applying to highly competitive colleges...

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.

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.

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

On the agenda starting at 11 tomorrow morning.

Do I care? No, I don't.

Although it has been determined that 4th quarter grades will be pass/fail, it has not been determined how the semester grades will be determined:

Will it just be the Q3 grade?
Can they still bring up their Q3 grade? Some students focus on a few classes to get an A one quarter and then the others the next quarter, particularly kids in spring sports, theater, or taking really challenging course load
Will they try and get rid of Q3 grades and just have a grade for semester 1?
How will their GPA be calculated?

Who knows what they'll come up with? But, make sure your voice is heard by contacting the Board of Education tonight at boe at mcpsmd.org . The word is that they will be deciding this at the board meeting tomorrow.

Anyone with more information, please chime in.