From Sundays Republican American
Full story available at http://republicanamerican.ct.newsmemory.com/newsmemvol2/connecticut/republicanamerican/20180114/wl0114a05.pdf.0/page/pag_1_7.gif
Parents are asking the Kent Board of Education to intervene and improve the school’s grading policy, claiming that changes implemented this year are detrimental to student learning.
Parent Melissa Woodin was one of several parents who attended the Jan. 10 meeting of the board. Others submitted letters to the board with similar concerns outlined. Woodin asked the board to consider her letter submitted. Grades from the first trimester at Kent Center School were posted before the holiday break and a number of parents believe there are problems.
The new grading system at the school specifies that there will be no zeroes given for academic grades, “work habits will not be included as part of academic grades;” “achievement grades will be based on summative assessments” and “retakes will be offered for summative assessments that do not meet standard (below 70 percent).” Parents report that there is not consistency among all the teachers in how this is being administered. Woodin’s letter states her concerns that the grading system “does not prepare them for public or private secondary school. This grading practice does not build or support homework or classroom skills,” she wrote. She also said it does not allow for different learning styles for students.
Teachers are not permitted to give Ds or Fs to students any longer. Instead, students may receive a “Not Yet Proficient” instead of a grade.The changes have shown an significant increase in the number of students earning honor roll status, according to Principal Florence Budge. “Our honor roll was more stringent,” Budge explained.