<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0EoSqn_1H0BN9Iu00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0EoSqn_1H0BN9Iu00" width="1000" height="820" ></figure>The Beachwood Board of Education unanimously approved the third and final reading of revised board policies at its biweekly meeting on Oct. 26. Among the approved policies is an updated grading policy.Beachwood Board of Education President Megan Walsh explained that the motivation behind the revised grading policy was the desire for consistency.“It was just taking a look at our policies and realizing that the high school policy was not consistent with the middle school, and also not consistent with other area high schools,” she said. “We wanted that consistency, and we think that this change in policy, in particular, it benefits students.”Superintendent Dr. Bob Hardis emphasized that the language should be clear and implemented consistently.“[We wanted to] make sure… that anything surrounding grading is crystal clear to our students, their parents and also to our staff who do the grading,” he said. The new grading policy has been a long work in progress. Around April to May of last year, Neola, a company that helps school districts align policies in compliance with state and federal law, initiated updates to some of Beachwood’s district policies, including the grading policy. After receiving feedback, the process was slowed down in an attempt to reflect a wider variety of voices in the district.President of the Beachwood Federation of Teachers and social studies teacher Pam Crossman described the timeline.“Initially, the grading policy was introduced early summer at a board meeting, so [teachers] weren’t in session, and both secondary and elementary teachers had some concerns,” she said. “I reached out to the administration to request that they pause the adoption of the policy and elicit feedback from staff about the proposed changes, and they did that.”After Crossman’s request, teachers were asked to provide feedback.“There was a Google Form sent out to teachers where they could provide their input, things they liked, things that they disagreed with [as well as] general comments, and those were collected over the summer,” Crossman said.Director of Curriculum and Instruction Paul Chase also emphasized the importance of a collaborative process.“[We] realized we’re going to slow the process down, and we need to get more feedback,” he said. “That’s what good organizations do.”So what exactly are the changes that were made? 1% Makes “A” DifferenceOne of the most noticeable differences, at least to Walsh, was a small but impactful shift in how letter grades are determined.“The [change] that immediately comes to mind is a change for the high school in terms of what percentage points constitute what grade letter,” she said.Specifically, the previously established benchmark of 93.5% for an A was decreased to 92.5%. “That seems to be making students pretty happy,” Walsh said.Speed-Run: Grading EditionThe new grading system affects teachers as well as students. Now, teachers are expected to follow updated guidelines on the speed and frequency of grading.According to the Third and Final Reading of Revised Board Policies, teachers must report grades at the latest seven days after the grading period has ended. Kindergarten to fifth grade teachers are also required to have a minimum of five grades per quarter and have assignments graded within six school days of the submission date. Higher grade level teachers are given similar expectations with at least five grade entries per quarter, and at least one every ten school days, while also maintaining the same six-day grace period for grading assignments.Crossman explained that the district values timely feedback.“[Students] can anticipate getting more immediate feedback on anything from assessments to daily classwork, which can be beneficial in trying to determine where you stand in any given class,” she said. “I think the fact that there’s like an increased frequency in entering grades will also help kids better understand how they’re performing on a day-to-day basis in a class.”Nevertheless, strict deadlines still come with drawbacks and new time crunches. While for many staff members there may not be many changes in their typical routines, certain types of assignments can be more difficult to grade under the new guidelines.“If we’re talking [about] a simple worksheet, exit ticket or something like that, that’s not a problem. But when we’re talking about essays, journal entries or large-scale projects, that can become cumbersome,” Crossman noted.Replacement Regimen for RetakesThe new grading policy also allows students to retake up to two failed core curriculum classes. Principal Rebekah Sharpe emphasized the importance of balancing rigor with compassion. “One mistake in high school should not doom you and your transcript,” she said. “But [we] also [want] to balance that with the importance of teaching accountability, because both things are important as you get closer to adulthood.”According to the newly revised policy, students are limited to retaking two core curriculum subjects (math, ELA, science, or social studies) and must only use courses taught by a BHS or BMS teacher.Retaking a class will only change a student’s GPA, with an “F” still remaining on their transcript.New Standards for K-5Grades from kindergarten through fifth grade stand to see more dramatic changes. Bryden and Hilltop are preparing to implement standards-based grading with new definitions for how to classify the progress of students with Exceeding, Proficient, Developing or Beginning rather than the previous Outstanding, Satisfactory and Unsatisfactory verbiage.While other policies went into effect when the final reading was approved by the Board of Education, this new grading system will take longer to implement.“For grades K-5, the standards-based report card will be implemented next school year,” Hardis said. “That kind of change can’t take place immediately because the whole structure of the report card changes, and so any sort of data and assessments that K-5 teachers have right now, [they] can’t make the switch during the school year.”X-ing Out Extra CreditExtra credit restrictions, while not an entirely new addition to the grading policy, will see stronger enforcement. The policy states that extra credit must relate to the content area of the class and must enrich the curriculum. It also cannot exceed five percent of the total grade per quarter.Sharpe supports this policy.“If you’re getting credit or extra credit, it’s important, especially in high school, that it [be directly aligned with] the content and the standards being taught,” she said.Overall, the grading policy is a change that aims to foster collaboration and bolster consistency to create a better academic environment for everyone.“It’s just the right thing to do,” Walsh said.</div></body>

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The Beachwood Board of Education unanimously approved the third and final reading of revised board policies at its biweekly meeting on Oct. 26. Among the approved policies is an updated grading policy. Beachwood Board of Education President Megan Walsh explained that the motivation behind the revised grading policy was the...

Board of Education Approves New Grading Policy

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The Beachwood Board of Education unanimously approved the third and final reading of revised board policies at its biweekly meeting on Oct. 26. Among the a

Board of Education Approves New Grading Policy

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