Dear Parents and Guardians of Students in Grades 6-12,
I hope that all of you are staying safe. As we move toward the end of the 2019-2020 school year, I would like to share some additional information regarding 4th quarter grading.
The following protocols are now in place to ensure our goal to exercise care and compassion for our students. Our intent is to recognize the challenges of the sudden move to distance learning, but also to be clear that students are expected to engage in learning during the 4th quarter.
For middle school students who are demonstrating their best work, attempting assignments and communicating with teachers, grades will be addressed as follows:
- Yearlong courses: the Q4 grade will be no lower than average of Q1, Q2 & Q3.
- Second semester middle school courses: the Q4 grade will be no lower than the Q3 grade.
- High school courses taken in middle school: refer to the high school student section below
For high school students who are demonstrating their best work, attempting assignments and communicating with teachers, grades will be addressed as follows:
- Yearlong courses that have an EOC exam: the Q4 grade will be no lower than the average of Q1, Q2 & Q3.
- All other high school courses: the Q4 grade will be no lower than the Q3 grade.
For any student in grades 6-12, who willfully refuses to complete schoolwork during the 4th quarter, teachers may, in consultation with the principal, assign an F for Q4. The F will be recorded as a 59%.
Algebra 1
For students enrolled in Algebra 1 or Algebra 1 Honors during the 2019-2020 school year, the requirement to take the EOC and the requirement that the EOC counts as 30% of the final grade have been waived. However, there is still a math graduation requirement that must be met via one of the following options: passing score on a future Algebra 1 EOC, passing score on a future Geometry EOC, approved math concordant score on the PSAT/NMSQT, ACT or SAT.
SJCSD Students who take the Algebra 1 EOC during the summer 2020 administration or the fall 2020 administration will be eligible for the opportunity to include the EOC score in the Algebra 1 grade. Only if the score raises the final grade, will the grade be changed. Testing date information will be provided by each school.
Thank you for supporting your children with online learning! Our success has been a team effort and from my seat, SJCSD teachers, parents and students have been virtually amazing!
Together,
Tim Forson
Superintendent