Published On: April 8th, 2020By Valonia Walker, APR

Aldine Announces Grading Policy for Final Nine Weeks

Aldine ISD Grading Policy 4th Nine-Weeks

April 14, 2020 to May 28, 2020

*Please contact your child’s principal, counselor or teacher if you have any questions.

Aldine ISD staff has dedicated the past three weeks to ensuring that students can access resources at home through our At-Home Learning website and hard-copy materials. As the district continues to evolve under new circumstances presented by COVID-19, how grades are collected and recorded was an important decision.

This week, the district is announcing a grading policy that will impact the final nine-week grading cycle of the school year, April 14 – May 28. A resolution will be presented to the board during its next regular board meeting on April 21 to clarify changes to the district’s grading policy.

“We understand that grades in the current environment are a concern for both students and parents,” said Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney, Aldine ISD Superintendent of Schools. “Our goal is for students to progress in their learning and be fully supported, as we navigate this unprecedented situation. This change should support their ongoing learning opportunities.”

Under the new grading plan, secondary students (grades 6-12) will receive numeric grades based on up to five assignments per course. Those grades will be averaged for the fourth nine-weeks to create a final grade. If this average is higher than the 3rd 9 weeks average, it will be included. If not, it will not be counted. Students can only improve their grades during the 4th 9 weeks if they successfully complete the assignments. Grades for students in prekindergarten through fifth grade will not be recorded.

“We are dedicated to assisting students and families,” said Chief of Schools Katy Roede. “Virtual learning or packets can not replace the interaction of a teacher and in-class instruction; however, learning must continue. By making this change, students will continue to receive feedback and credit for the work they are completing either through at-home learning or instructional packets.”

A resolution was passed during the March 24 board meeting to allow Aldine to calculate class rank for the Class of 2020 based on all grade points earned from the ninth grade through the last day of the second nine weeks of the first semester of the students’ senior year. This rank was used to determine the valedictorian and salutatorians at each of our high schools.

Pre-K Students
Grades Pre-K: Grades will not be recorded for the 4th nine weeks. Teachers will engage students in reading, math and other content areas using the Schoology At-Home Learning site.

Pre-K Students

Grades Pre-K:

Grades will not be recorded for the 4th nine weeks.
Teachers will engage students in reading, math and other content areas using the Schoology At-Home Learning site.

Kindergarten & Elementary Students (Grades K-5)
Grades K-5: Grades will not be recorded for the 4th nine weeks. Teachers will focus on providing mastery learning activities and providing feedback to students through Schoology. The yearly average will be based on the average of the first three nine-week grading periods.

Kindergarten & Elementary Students (Grades K-5)

Grades K-5:

Grades will not be recorded for the 4th nine weeks.
Teachers will focus on providing mastery learning activities and providing feedback to students through Schoology.
The yearly average will be based on the average of the first three nine-week grading periods.

Middle School Students (Grades 6-8)
Students will receive no more than five assignments per course that will count toward the 4th nine-weeks grade. These will all be formative grades, with all graded assignments equally weighted within the course. Students will have the opportunity to raise their year course average through their 4th nine-week grades. Grades in the 4th nine-weeks will not negatively impact student averages. There will be no final exams this semester.

Middle School Students (Grades 6-8)

Students will receive no more than five assignments per course that will count toward the 4th nine-weeks grade.
These will all be formative grades, with all graded assignments equally weighted within the course.
Students will have the opportunity to raise their year course average through their 4th nine-week grades.
Grades in the 4th nine-weeks will not negatively impact student averages.
There will be no final exams this semester.

High School Students (Grades 9-12)
Students will receive no more than five assignments per course that will count toward the 4th nine-weeks grade. These will all be formative grades, with all graded assignments equally weighted within the course. For 9th-11th graders: Students will have the opportunity to raise their semester course average and GPA through their 4th nine-week grades. Grades in the 4th nine-weeks will not negatively impact student averages/GPA. The spring semester average will be determined by the 3rd nine-week grade and the *higher* of the 3rd or 4th nine-week grade. For 12th graders, the GPA and rank have been calculated based on the end of the 2nd 9 weeks. There will be no final exams this semester.

High School Students (Grades 9-12)

Students will receive no more than five assignments per course that will count toward the 4th nine-weeks grade.
These will all be formative grades, with all graded assignments equally weighted within the course.
For 9th-11th graders:
- Students will have the opportunity to raise their semester course average and GPA through their 4th nine-week grades.
- Grades in the 4th nine-weeks will not negatively impact student averages/GPA.
- The spring semester average will be determined by the 3rd nine-week grade and the higher of the 3rd or 4th nine-week grade.
For 12th graders, the GPA and rank have been calculated based on the end of the 2nd 9 weeks.
There will be no final exams this semester.

Frequently Asked Questions

How will the 4th nine-week grade affect my semester grade?

For secondary students, the final grade will be used to measure learning. If the final grade is higher than the grade you received for the third nine-week grading period it can improve your final grades for the year.

Did Aldine ISD consider a Pass/Fail option for grades?

District leaders thoroughly considered all options. Recording numerical grades for secondary students was determined to be best for our students because:.

Pass/Fail does not provide all students with the opportunity to raise their overall semester average/GPA by being engaged in their learning this 4th nine-week grading period.
The NCAA Clearinghouse treats a grade of “Pass” as the lowest possible passing grade. This could put Aldine ISD students who are interested in collegiate athletics at a disadvantage compared to students coming from districts that recorded numerical grades.

Will students complete STAAR and End-of-Course (EOC) tests?

Grades 3-8 STAAR and EOCs will not be given this spring or summer. Normally, passing an EOC test is a graduation requirement. However this school year only, students currently enrolled in EOC-tested courses (English I, English II, Algebra I, Biology, and U.S. History) will not have to complete their corresponding EOC test provided they earn course credit during the 2019-2020 school year.

If your student is a senior and has not passed all EOCs and/or earned credits for graduation, your campus counselor will be contacting you regarding the Individual Graduation Committee (IGC) process.

What will the grading practices be in Dual Credit or OnRamps courses?

Students enrolled in Lone Star College Dual Credit or UT OnRamps courses will be affected by the colleges’ decisions.

Our thoughts are with the students and families of Aldine ISD during this difficult time. Please reach out to your child’s principal, counselor or teachers as needed.