Post on 02-Jan-2016
March 28, 2013
Grading
Practices
Committee
Report and Recommendations
GPC Background• January 2013 Committee organized and
research/analysis began
• February 2013 First committee meeting
• March 2013 Information posted on website
Second committee meeting
• March 28, 2013 Committee report to School Board
Charge of the Committee
To explore and make recommendations on:
1. Changing the current grading policy from a 7 to 10 point scale,
and
2. Changing the current weighting system from .17 to 1.0 scale.
Committee added:
3. Differentiating the weight for honors vs. AP/IB classes.
Grading Scale
Meeting One Meeting Two
Grading Practices Committee Timeline GPA PowerPoint Presentation
Grading Practices Review (Other Divisions) GPC Agenda – Meeting Two
Cumulative GPA (Current Procedures) What Universities Say – Part Two
Regulation Pertaining to Honors & AP HCPS Transcript/Class Rank Study
Procedures for Computing Class Rank GPA Example – C/D Student
HCPS Transcript Study GPA Example – B/C Student
GPA Example Grading Scale & Weighted Changes
What Universities Say – Part One Straw Poll Document
Group Reports from Meeting One
Documents Associated with GPC’s Work
February 26th GPC Straw Poll
ISSUE YES NO ABSTAIN
1. Move from a 7 point to a 10 point scale
47 1 0
2. Move from a .17 weight to a 1.0 weight
47 0 1
3. Differentiate honors vs. advanced weight (.5 vs. 1.0)
47 0 0
GPA Calculation ExampleCurrent
Grading/Weighting System
10 Point Grading Scale with
Differentiated Weighting
Difference
A/B Student(8 Honors/2 AP)
4.372 4.161 - 0.211
B/C Student(1 Honors)
2.339 2.797 0.458
C/D Student (0 Honors/AP/IB)
1.714 2.233 0.519
Transcript Study: Analyses of Potential Grading Policy Change Effects
• Purpose– Conducted to determine the effect of revising the current
grading/weighting policy on student GPA calculations
– Provided to the Grading Practices Committee with findings for each grading/weighting option
• Methodology– High school course grades at the end of grade 11 from the
2013 senior class were used (all high schools).
GPA Analysis
Average GPA with Current HCPS Grading/Weighting System = 2.91Average GPA with 10 point Grading Scale and Differentiated Weighting = 3.13
Change from Current Grading Scale and Advanced Course Weighting System to 10 point Grading Scale with Differentiated Weighting System
Current GPA Range
Impact of 10 point scale with differentiated weighting
Decreased GPA Increased GPA/No Change Total% % N
< 1.499 1.3% 98.7% 3001.500 - 1.999 2.2% 97.8% 4162.000 - 2.499 1.6% 98.4% 4952.500 - 2.999 1.8% 98.2% 4553.000 - 3.499 2.1% 97.9% 4703.500 - 3.999 24.6% 75.4% 4184.000 - 4.449 86.6% 13.4% 3134.500 - 4.999 96.6% 3.4% 2335.000 - 5.499 100.0% 0.0% 15
Total 21.0% 79.0% 3115* Students with transfer credits were excluded from this analysis.
Transcript Analyses: Summary of Findings
• Change to 10-point grading scale with differentiated weighting system would likely result in increased GPAs, particularly within lower GPA ranges.
• Current GPAs within the highest ranges (≥ 4.0) are likely to experience a decrease.
Implementation Options
• Transition to 10 point grading scale for 2014-2015 school year.– Delay running class rank for class of 2015 until
September 2014.– All high school GPAs recalculated during
summer and distributed to class of 2015.– We do not distribute cumulative GPAs until
class rank is computed.
• Option 1 for differentiated weighted credit.– Move to 1.0 for AP/IB Diploma courses and .5
for honors courses in 2014-2015.– Adjustment happens at one time.– This will also impact more students and GPAs
will be adjusted to a larger degree.
Implementation Options
• Option 2 for weighted credit change.
- Move to 1.0 for AP/IB Diploma and honors courses in 2014-2015.
- In 2016-2017 honors classes weighting will change to .5.
- Change is phased in so current high school students can make scheduling decisions.
- GPAs will be recalculated twice in three years.
Implementation Options
Preferred Option
100% Committee Agreement
Important to Move Forward
One Year Notice is Sufficient
Fair to Everyone
Option 1
• How will transfer credits be calculated?• What if a student fails a course with a 65 and then
converts to the new system?• How will the a new process be communicated to
students and families?• Should the new scale be implemented at the
elementary and middle school level next year?• Should high school courses taken in middle school
factor into a student’s official GPA?
Committee Questions
Next Steps
Two Community
Forums
Division-wide Survey
Report to School Board
and Action
April 2013 April 2013 May 2013