FACT: Students are held accountable for both their academic performance and their behavior.
Teachers hold students accountable to their learning every day through classroom assignments, differentiated learning opportunities and evaluation of classwork and homework. That has not changed. What’s more, students are also held accountable when their behaviors (not meeting deadlines, organizational problems, time management, etc.) impact their learning. The grading guidelines outline that these behaviors should be addressed through parent conferences, guidance referrals and, when necessary, student response team meetings. In addressing both the academic and the behavioral needs of the child, the guidelines create a more comprehensive accountability structure than simply allowing a reduction of a grade.
Assignments are given to help gauge how well students are learning, and their grades on that assignment reflect their level of understanding. If students are not completing the work, it does not necessarily mean they do not know the content. Consequently, a zero does not reflect students’ understanding of content, but their inability to complete a task.