NC schools can only issue grades during pandemic if all students have equal access
North Carolina school districts are being told they can’t give grades unless they can ensure that all students are getting a chance to learn during the switch to remote learning.
All North Carolina public schools are moving to distance learning because they’re closed through at least May 15 to try to slow the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. The state Department of Public Instruction told school districts Thursday that learning is still expected to continue but grades can only be issued when all students can access the courses.
“It is SBE (State Board of Education) policy that no grades be given if learning is not accessible for all students involved in the class; this does not include extenuating circumstances like illness of a student or refusal of a student to complete work,” DPI said in a memo.
DPI’s memo also included more information on how to handle high schools seniors who’ve passed all their classes. The state board voted last week that seniors will be marked as passing a class if they were passing on March 13 — the last day before schools were closed.
No change on promoting or retaining students
DPI also says that there has not been any statewide direction altering promotion and retention policies at this time. Hoax stories have circulated on social media saying that all students would be forced to repeat the year because of the school closures.
The hoax reached a point Wednesday, April Fools’ Day, that the Wake County school system tweeted a disclaimer not to believe the false reports.
The extended closures have raised questions about how grading should happen over the next two months.
The state board approved a DPI recommendation last week saying that regular grades can only be given in grades K-11 if remote learning meets all these requirements:
▪ Is accessible by all students for which the learning is intended and is responsive to diverse learning groups.
▪ Maintains consistent communication between instructional staff and students.
▪ Addresses the curricular and instructional needs associated with appropriate standards.
▪ Includes evidence of student learning.
▪ Considers the whole child as well as the home learning environment.
If all those “critical factors” can’t be met, DPI says students’ grades can’t be negatively impacted. Teachers can still give ungraded feedback in those instances.
But DPI told districts Thursday that learning shouldn’t stop at a school if a single student doesn’t have a device to learn remotely.
“It is paramount that remote learning continues,” DPI says in the memo. “LEAs/Charters are encouraged to use all resources and equipment at their disposal to ensure learning during this public health crisis.”
Schools can grade remote learning assignments
Many school districts, including Wake County, are giving computers and printed material to help students who don’t have the technology at home.
DPI says it’s “pleased” that districts are giving out computers to students but isn’t requiring them to do so. The agency says there are other ways students can learn.
“For some students, remote learning may be individual sessions over the phone and for others, a Zoom class may work, and for others, an assignment via email may work,” DPI says.
In the case of a class where some students don’t have internet access, DPI says grades can still be given for assignments if the teacher provides a “reasonable way” for them to be done offline. This could include completing it via paper/pencil, phone, etc.
“If one of those two students simply refuses to do it and could reasonably have been expected to complete the assignment, that does not prevent the other 19 students from getting a grade,” DPI says. “An instance where a teacher should not grade an assignment at all would be if the teacher really cannot be sure that it was reasonable to expect completion by the whole class considering the critical factors for remote learning.”
The memo says that new work can be given.
High school students in grades 9-11 will still get extra credit for taking Advancement Placement, International Baccalaureate, Cambridge International Education and College and Career Promise classes if all the “critical factors” are met.
DPI says some policies may need to be revised if schools don’t reopen after May 15. Additionally, DPI says additional guidance on grading will be provided if schools remain closed.
School not over for seniors
Last week’s state board vote means seniors who were passing all of their courses as of March 13 have effectively met graduation requirements. But DPI says “school is not over” for those members of the Class of 2020, and they’ll have to wait until the end of the school year to graduate.
“NCDPI encourages that remote learning opportunities be available for seniors to engage students, continue student growth, and respond to social and emotional needs,” the memo says.
Instead of a traditional letter grade, seniors who were passing as of March 13 will get a mark of “PC19” for the class showing they passed. No spring semester classes will count for grade-point average for seniors.
Seniors who’ve already passed won’t be able to improve their grade. DPI says schools “may consider adopting an invitational approach to the learning opportunities” to get those seniors interested.
If a senior was failing as of March 13, they’re to be given a chance to study remotely and to take a final exam to pass to get the PC19 grade. If they don’t pass, they’ll get a “WC19” grade on their transcript, meaning they withdrew.
This story was originally published April 2, 2020 at 2:46 PM.
