Cape board sets minimum student grade per marking period

The Cape Henlopen school board voted unanimously Jan. 28 to set the minimum grade a student can receive in any marking period to a 60 for the 2020-21 school year.

Cape Supervisor of Secondary Education Mike Young said he sought feedback from teachers on the change in policy, and he is now forming a grading committee comprising teachers, administrators and specialists to propose changes to the policy for future school years.

Board President Alison Myers said the topic of student grading deserves a deep dive, and the change in the policy for this year will not address grading in its entirety. 

“It was strictly about giving kids an opportunity this year, when it’s so difficult for so many,” she said. “We understand there is an unintended consequence to this and it can be taken advantage of, but I think we all feel this is a very necessary thing for this year because of the 4x4 block [scheduling for high school students] and the ways we are doing things with remote learning, with families struggling, students struggling, teachers struggling, that it’s an important thing.”

It took a while to revise the elementary grading process several years ago, Myers said, and it will take a while for the grading committee to work through changes for following years.