Anonymous
10/24/2022 20:13
Subject: Fifty percent rule in MCPS high school
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone clarify this for me? What was it pre pandemic? What was it last year? What is it this year?
I thought kids got fifty percent even if they did not turn in the assignment. But something in another thread in FCPS says you have to at least turn it in to get the fifty percent.
They revised this recently. It was well covered here but you'd have to search.
It was revised, at least in our HS. You get like 2 or 3 chances, after that, they can give you a 0.
Is t there a requirement of actual contact with parents before you can go to a zero? That’s how it was explained to us during BTSN. The problem then is that kids with responsive parents could get a zero but kids whose parents ignored the effort to make conduct would get 50%. So it encourages parents to ignore calls and e-mails from teachers and penalizes kids whose parents respond.
This is the policy at my school. Doesn’t matter how many notices the teacher provides. All that matters is whether the teacher gets “affirmative response” from the parent. If the parent doesn’t respond or says “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Larla said she turned it in.”, the teacher can’t give a zero.
It is utter BS.
Are you a teacher? If so, that is against this year’s guidance-see the document. Bring it up with your EFRs to address with admin.
The reality is that we should have high expectations of students and we need to communicate that to them. That is why we started the year letting people know we were returning to normal attendance and grading policies. Not doing so hurts kids in the long run.
Anonymous
10/24/2022 19:52
Subject: Fifty percent rule in MCPS high school
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone clarify this for me? What was it pre pandemic? What was it last year? What is it this year?
I thought kids got fifty percent even if they did not turn in the assignment. But something in another thread in FCPS says you have to at least turn it in to get the fifty percent.
They revised this recently. It was well covered here but you'd have to search.
It was revised, at least in our HS. You get like 2 or 3 chances, after that, they can give you a 0.
Is t there a requirement of actual contact with parents before you can go to a zero? That’s how it was explained to us during BTSN. The problem then is that kids with responsive parents could get a zero but kids whose parents ignored the effort to make conduct would get 50%. So it encourages parents to ignore calls and e-mails from teachers and penalizes kids whose parents respond.
This is the policy at my school. Doesn’t matter how many notices the teacher provides. All that matters is whether the teacher gets “affirmative response” from the parent. If the parent doesn’t respond or says “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Larla said she turned it in.”, the teacher can’t give a zero.
It is utter BS.
Anonymous
10/24/2022 17:13
Subject: Re:Fifty percent rule in MCPS high school
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was curious about this too. Is there research that shows kids really learn more/make greater effort with this policy in place? I don’t have kids in HS yet but we’re already seeing this in MS. We’re already telling our kids that in the real world, you don’t get half pay for zero work so try your best the first time. But obviously that’s hard to enforce when they see whats going on in class.
My son has ADHD and anxiety, and honestly he was a real PITA last year in 9th grade. He took every advantage of the 50% rule and just eeked out Cs in most classes. This year, he is really applying himself and makes sure he turns things in on time. It's not true for all kids. Maybe not even most kids. And it's certainly not mature. But for kids like mine, low expectations encouraged my son to perform poorly. He now works really hard to achieve what people think he can achieve. I am not a teacher, so I don't know the right approach for most kids. I just found it frustrating (and fascinating) to watch.
What did you do or what happened that last your your son didn’t care or put much effort in and then this year he does care and work hard?
We have an ADHD/HFA child and no amount of schemes, incentives, points works or motivated ours yet…
Anonymous
10/24/2022 16:57
Subject: Fifty percent rule in MCPS high school
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone clarify this for me? What was it pre pandemic? What was it last year? What is it this year?
I thought kids got fifty percent even if they did not turn in the assignment. But something in another thread in FCPS says you have to at least turn it in to get the fifty percent.
They revised this recently. It was well covered here but you'd have to search.
It was revised, at least in our HS. You get like 2 or 3 chances, after that, they can give you a 0.
Is t there a requirement of actual contact with parents before you can go to a zero? That’s how it was explained to us during BTSN. The problem then is that kids with responsive parents could get a zero but kids whose parents ignored the effort to make conduct would get 50%. So it encourages parents to ignore calls and e-mails from teachers and penalizes kids whose parents respond.
The parents are contacted in high school for a zero? I’m
Surprised. I’ve received no contact and saw a couple of zeros for my 9th grader.
That may not be what you think it is. More likely the item simply hasn't been graded but the due date has passed.
Anonymous
10/24/2022 16:56
Subject: Re:Fifty percent rule in MCPS high school
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was curious about this too. Is there research that shows kids really learn more/make greater effort with this policy in place? I don’t have kids in HS yet but we’re already seeing this in MS. We’re already telling our kids that in the real world, you don’t get half pay for zero work so try your best the first time. But obviously that’s hard to enforce when they see whats going on in class.
Well in all fairness, no you don’t get half pay for zero work. You get full pay unless you don’t show up to an hourly job.
your analogy is flawed please go away
Anonymous
10/24/2022 16:32
Subject: Re:Fifty percent rule in MCPS high school
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I was curious about this too. Is there research that shows kids really learn more/make greater effort with this policy in place? I don’t have kids in HS yet but we’re already seeing this in MS. We’re already telling our kids that in the real world, you don’t get half pay for zero work so try your best the first time. But obviously that’s hard to enforce when they see whats going on in class.
My son has ADHD and anxiety, and honestly he was a real PITA last year in 9th grade. He took every advantage of the 50% rule and just eeked out Cs in most classes. This year, he is really applying himself and makes sure he turns things in on time. It's not true for all kids. Maybe not even most kids. And it's certainly not mature. But for kids like mine, low expectations encouraged my son to perform poorly. He now works really hard to achieve what people think he can achieve. I am not a teacher, so I don't know the right approach for most kids. I just found it frustrating (and fascinating) to watch.
We have a kid like yours and this was our experience last year. The lax deadlines compounded it.
Anonymous
10/24/2022 16:31
Subject: Fifty percent rule in MCPS high school
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone clarify this for me? What was it pre pandemic? What was it last year? What is it this year?
I thought kids got fifty percent even if they did not turn in the assignment. But something in another thread in FCPS says you have to at least turn it in to get the fifty percent.
They revised this recently. It was well covered here but you'd have to search.
It was revised, at least in our HS. You get like 2 or 3 chances, after that, they can give you a 0.
Is t there a requirement of actual contact with parents before you can go to a zero? That’s how it was explained to us during BTSN. The problem then is that kids with responsive parents could get a zero but kids whose parents ignored the effort to make conduct would get 50%. So it encourages parents to ignore calls and e-mails from teachers and penalizes kids whose parents respond.
The parents are contacted in high school for a zero? I’m
Surprised. I’ve received no contact and saw a couple of zeros for my 9th grader.
This year there is not a requirement for two-way contact. Just "attempted" contact, which included the use of Canvas' and ParentVue bulk alert emails for missing assignments.
PP - did you set up your Canvas account to be an observer for your student? You may want to check your notification settings. Also, if you see a 0, check ParentVue on a desktop to see if the assignment is flagged as "missing". If so, it should still be accepted for late credit. I don't think the app shows the "missing" status.
Anonymous
10/24/2022 16:26
Subject: Re:Fifty percent rule in MCPS high school
HS teacher here. There is an internal to MCPS document "Secondary Grading and Reporting Guidance 2022-23" that is this year's detailed guidance regarding grading and reporting. There has always been a guiding document with specifics about implementation. Prior to the pandemic, there was more teacher flexibility about several aspects. During the past two years, MCPS has given more specific guidance and adjusted a few specific practices, both due to the pandemic and also due to the gradebook changeover to Synergy (with some practice changes already in the works before the pandemic.)
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/grading/report-cards-secondary.aspx (this still has last year's guidance linked instead of this year's)
The two main differences this year are
- when a teacher enters an assignment as "missing" or Z, it will calculate as a 0 instead of 50%. This is a stronger signal that something is missing and needs to be done.
- missing assignments may remain a 0 if there have been 3 attempts to notify parents of the missing work. Two-way contact is not required to be able to give a zero this year (because parents were just ignoring teacher attempts to contact last year.)
Exactly which assignments can end up as 0 instead of 50% for missing is determined at the teacher level. There should be consistency for course-alike teams on assignments in the 90% category. Communication to parents is still expected (including via Canvas and Parentvue notifications) so parents should be aware of which assignments might end up as 0% if not completed by the deadline.
For my particular team, we agreed to use 50% minimum rule for the 1st unit as students returned to school and faced reality of no phones and more accountability. Then for the 2nd unit we gave 0s for missing assignments that were supposed to be done during class time and there were also in class make-up days. The end of unit quiz is 50% minimum. If a student skipped class (unexcused absence) they don't get to take it on another day (actual grading policy says it would be a 0). Final project will be in class in 2 parts, and if not completed will be a 0. The students being affected by this return to former procedures are ones who have a lot of absences without trying to make-up work, and students who somehow manage to not do work when they are in class. Overall, I'm finding that most students are doing a better job this year keeping up with assignments and turning things in on time, which then means they are better prepared in class to learn the next thing.
https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/grading/report-cards-secondary.aspx (this still has last year's guidance linked instead of this year's)
The two main differences this year are
- when a teacher enters an assignment as "missing" or Z, it will calculate as a 0 instead of 50%. This is a stronger signal that something is missing and needs to be done.
- missing assignments may remain a 0 if there have been 3 attempts to notify parents of the missing work. Two-way contact is not required to be able to give a zero this year (because parents were just ignoring teacher attempts to contact last year.)
Exactly which assignments can end up as 0 instead of 50% for missing is determined at the teacher level. There should be consistency for course-alike teams on assignments in the 90% category. Communication to parents is still expected (including via Canvas and Parentvue notifications) so parents should be aware of which assignments might end up as 0% if not completed by the deadline.
For my particular team, we agreed to use 50% minimum rule for the 1st unit as students returned to school and faced reality of no phones and more accountability. Then for the 2nd unit we gave 0s for missing assignments that were supposed to be done during class time and there were also in class make-up days. The end of unit quiz is 50% minimum. If a student skipped class (unexcused absence) they don't get to take it on another day (actual grading policy says it would be a 0). Final project will be in class in 2 parts, and if not completed will be a 0. The students being affected by this return to former procedures are ones who have a lot of absences without trying to make-up work, and students who somehow manage to not do work when they are in class. Overall, I'm finding that most students are doing a better job this year keeping up with assignments and turning things in on time, which then means they are better prepared in class to learn the next thing.
Anonymous
10/24/2022 16:23
Subject: Fifty percent rule in MCPS high school
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone clarify this for me? What was it pre pandemic? What was it last year? What is it this year?
I thought kids got fifty percent even if they did not turn in the assignment. But something in another thread in FCPS says you have to at least turn it in to get the fifty percent.
They revised this recently. It was well covered here but you'd have to search.
It was revised, at least in our HS. You get like 2 or 3 chances, after that, they can give you a 0.
Is t there a requirement of actual contact with parents before you can go to a zero? That’s how it was explained to us during BTSN. The problem then is that kids with responsive parents could get a zero but kids whose parents ignored the effort to make conduct would get 50%. So it encourages parents to ignore calls and e-mails from teachers and penalizes kids whose parents respond.
Not an expert, but I recall a teacher weighing in on a prior thread and they said they have to document at least X attempts to contact parent (don't recall what X was- maybe 3 times?) So they email/leave voicemails 3 times and then can proceed. I guess.
The parents are contacted in high school for a zero? I’m
Surprised. I’ve received no contact and saw a couple of zeros for my 9th grader.
Anonymous
10/24/2022 16:11
Subject: Fifty percent rule in MCPS high school
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Can someone clarify this for me? What was it pre pandemic? What was it last year? What is it this year?
I thought kids got fifty percent even if they did not turn in the assignment. But something in another thread in FCPS says you have to at least turn it in to get the fifty percent.
They revised this recently. It was well covered here but you'd have to search.
It was revised, at least in our HS. You get like 2 or 3 chances, after that, they can give you a 0.
Is t there a requirement of actual contact with parents before you can go to a zero? That’s how it was explained to us during BTSN. The problem then is that kids with responsive parents could get a zero but kids whose parents ignored the effort to make conduct would get 50%. So it encourages parents to ignore calls and e-mails from teachers and penalizes kids whose parents respond.
The parents are contacted in high school for a zero? I’m
Surprised. I’ve received no contact and saw a couple of zeros for my 9th grader.