Students on IEP’s are in a unique situation involving grading. Many students are working on IEP goals aligned with standards that are below grade level. Many of these skills are required to perform grade level standards, and they are essential to do grade level tasks. Students’ grades will be based on their mastery of the skills on which they are working. Sometimes students will be graded according to modified criteria, meaning their grade is based on mastery of below grade level prerequisites to the grade level standard. In these situations, students will receive a grade on their grade card (BS, AS, MS, ES) which refers to their ability to master prerequisite skills. These grades will be marked with an asterisk (*) and noted as “modified curriculum” at the bottom of the report card. This “modified curriculum” indicates that the student is working on below grade level material that is building toward grade level standards. At other times students will be graded in mastery of grade level standards with the accommodations allowed in their IEP (i.e. books on tape). These students do not have a modified curriculum, and are being asked to perform the grade level task with the same ability as their peers. Their grades will not have the asterisk and, students will be required to know, understand, and do the same things as their peers to earn their grade. All grades will be ultimately based on students’ mastery of common core state standards.
Students will be given homework as an opportunity to practice skills they need to meet standards. This work will be completed by class the day it is due. If students choose not to do this work at home, they choose to do it at school during lunch/recess time. When the work is done, students may return to lunch or recess. If an assignment is too difficult for the student to complete there is a homework excuse form that must be filled out. This form requires the student to list what he was able to do, what he was unable to do/what the problem was, how he tried to solve the problem (at least 2 solutions attempted), and what questions he still has. Then the student will be given time (either in class or at lunch/recess) to have those questions answered and will be given another day to complete the assignment. Homework will be returned with comments on it, the intention being for students to read the comments and learn from them.
If an assignment is not completed satisfactorily, students will have the opportunity to redo it. In order to redo it, the student must get teacher and parent permission, fill out a redo slip, create a structured study plan (write in their plan book what they will do each day to complete the work), and turn in the redone assignment attached to the original assignment. On redone work, students’ mastery will be assessed based on the highest score earned. Since students are allowed to redo assignments, grade altering extra credit will not be offered.
Students will be given homework as an opportunity to practice skills they need to meet standards. This work will be completed by class the day it is due. If students choose not to do this work at home, they choose to do it at school during lunch/recess time. When the work is done, students may return to lunch or recess. If an assignment is too difficult for the student to complete there is a homework excuse form that must be filled out. This form requires the student to list what he was able to do, what he was unable to do/what the problem was, how he tried to solve the problem (at least 2 solutions attempted), and what questions he still has. Then the student will be given time (either in class or at lunch/recess) to have those questions answered and will be given another day to complete the assignment. Homework will be returned with comments on it, the intention being for students to read the comments and learn from them.
If an assignment is not completed satisfactorily, students will have the opportunity to redo it. In order to redo it, the student must get teacher and parent permission, fill out a redo slip, create a structured study plan (write in their plan book what they will do each day to complete the work), and turn in the redone assignment attached to the original assignment. On redone work, students’ mastery will be assessed based on the highest score earned. Since students are allowed to redo assignments, grade altering extra credit will not be offered.