New Grading Policy Penalizes Late Work, Limits Redos In Anne Arundel Schools

Press release from Anne Arundel County Public Schools:

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD (Aug. 14, 2024) — Alterations to Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ regulation on the grading of student work will go into effect in the upcoming school year and are focused on increasing student responsibility and providing more time for teachers to focus on instruction, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Bedell announced today.

Dr. Bedell discussed the changes in a broad way at the Board of Education’s July 17, 2024, meeting. The changes have been arrived at after thorough discussion with principals and school leadership teams as well as with students and parent groups.

“Just as our teachers have a responsibility to deliver quality instruction, our students have a responsibility to get their work done on time,” Dr. Bedell said. “Our school system granted a great deal of leniency during the pandemic, but the pandemic is over and we need to strengthen the regulations and allow teachers to focus on instruction and not as many re-dos of student work.”

The changes have the greatest impact at the high school level. They include:

• The number of allowable redos that can be done by students has been reduced from three to two per class per marking period and must be categorized as “Assessments” in teacher gradebooks.
• Late work will continue to be accepted, but with a progressive penalty structure for each class period of lateness. Assignments that are turned in late are not eligible for redo.
• Students must once again exhibit a “good faith effort” in order to earn a minimum grade of 50 percent on an assignment.
• Students who are chronically absent may have credit withheld in a course, regardless of their grade in that course.
• Students in all grades who take Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses may opt out of the fourth marking period quarterly assessment in that course if they are taking the AP or IB exam in that course.

At the middle and high school levels, the grading scale now defines an E as 50 percent to 59 percent.

Principals at the secondary level have been provided with guidance on communicating the changes to teachers, students, and families. Teachers will spend time in the first part of the school year discussing the updates with students and principals will be communicating with families during the same time period.

The updated grading regulation can be found here.

This press release was produced by Anne Arundel County Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.