March 28, 2013 GradingPracticesCommittee Report and Recommendations

GPC Background January 2013Committee organized and research/analysis began February 2013First committee meeting March 2013Information posted on website Second committee meeting March 28, 2013Committee report to School Board

Charge of the Committee To explore and make recommendations on: 1. Changing the current grading policy from a 7 to 10 point scale, and 2. Changing the current weighting system from.17 to 1.0 scale. Committee added: 3. Differentiating the weight for honors vs. AP/IB classes.

Grading Scale

Documents Associated with GPC’s Work

GPA Calculation Example Current Grading/ Weighting System 10 Point Grading Scale with Differentiated Weighting Difference A/B Student (8 Honors/2 AP) B/C Student (1 Honors) C/D Student (0 Honors/AP/IB)

Transcript Study: Analyses of Potential Grading Policy Change Effects Purpose – Conducted to determine the effect of revising the current grading/weighting policy on student GPA calculations – Provided to the Grading Practices Committee with findings for each grading/weighting option Methodology – High school course grades at the end of grade 11 from the 2013 senior class were used (all high schools).

GPA Analysis Average GPA with Current HCPS Grading/Weighting System = 2.91 Average GPA with 10 point Grading Scale and Differentiated Weighting = 3.13 Change from Current Grading Scale and Advanced Course Weighting System to 10 point Grading Scale with Differentiated Weighting System Current GPA Range Impact of 10 point scale with differentiated weighting Decreased GPAIncreased GPA/No ChangeTotal %N < %98.7% %97.8% %98.4% %98.2% %97.9% %75.4% %13.4% %3.4% %0.0%15 Total21.0%79.0%3115 * Students with transfer credits were excluded from this analysis.

Transcript Analyses: Summary of Findings Change to 10-point grading scale with differentiated weighting system would likely result in increased GPAs, particularly within lower GPA ranges. Current GPAs within the highest ranges (≥ 4.0) are likely to experience a decrease.

Implementation Options Transition to 10 point grading scale for school year. – Delay running class rank for class of 2015 until September – All high school GPAs recalculated during summer and distributed to class of – We do not distribute cumulative GPAs until class rank is computed.

Option 1 for differentiated weighted credit. – Move to 1.0 for AP/IB Diploma courses and.5 for honors courses in – Adjustment happens at one time. – This will also impact more students and GPAs will be adjusted to a larger degree. Implementation Options

Option 2 for weighted credit change. Option 2 for weighted credit change. - Move to 1.0 for AP/IB Diploma and honors courses in In honors classes weighting will change to.5. -Change is phased in so current high school students can make scheduling decisions. -GPAs will be recalculated twice in three years. Implementation Options

Preferred Option 100% Committee Agreement Important to Move Forward One Year Notice is Sufficient Fair to Everyone Option 1

How will transfer credits be calculated? What if a student fails a course with a 65 and then converts to the new system? How will the a new process be communicated to students and families? Should the new scale be implemented at the elementary and middle school level next year? Should high school courses taken in middle school factor into a student’s official GPA? Committee Questions

Next Steps Two Community Forums Division- wide Survey Report to School Board and Action April 2013 May 2013