Implementation of two different grading scales confusing to students

The new school year has brought many new changes to the OPS school system. However, perhaps one of the biggest changes is the trial of the new grading system. Currently the new grading policy is being tested in nine classes throughout the 2016-2017 school year.

These nine classes are field testing this policy to test how effective it is compared to the current grading policy. With the current system students can get an A if their grade is from 3.01 to 4.00, and on the other side of the spectrum they will get an F if their grade is between 0.00 to 0.75. The new grading policy will make it so in order to get an A students grades haves to be between 3.26 to 4.00, and an F is between 0.00 and 1.00. The new system is being field tested in nine classes. Elementary schools are testing it in fourth grade math. Middle schools are testing it in seventh grade social studies, eighth grade language arts and honors language arts, eighth grade honors physical science, and algebra or honors algebra 1-2. High schools are testing it in modern world history 1-2, English and honors English 3-4, algebra and honors algebra 1-2, and physical science and honors physical science.

This policy is not being used by all classes so some kids may have a few classes graded one way and other classes being graded another way. This could be very confusing for students being graded in some classes differently then other classes. For example, in one class using the current grading system a student could receive an A, while receiving the same induvial assignment grades and receive a B in a class using the new grading scale. This mix-match of grading policies will be difficult for kids to keep straight with some being graded and others another way.

The biggest area where this can be seen is in the fourth grade math class. In fourth grade students do not switch classes. Most of their classes will be grading using the old grading system. However in math they will be graded with the new system. Normally in Elementary school there is very little change when moving from one subject to another. Therefore, having completely different grading scales could be confusing for the students.

Not only could this new system be confusing for the students but it could also be confusing for the teachers. There are many teachers who will be facing a new problem this year, having classes graded on a different grading scale. For example, fourth grade teachers have to grade most of their students work using the old grading policy. However, they also have to grade the math with the new grading policy. This could be confusing for the teachers who are having to grade in multiple grading scales. A few Central teachers who could be effected by this new change are teachers who teach both algebra 1-2 and another math class.

This new grading scale is a good idea but needed to be enacted across the entire district instead of just some classes. As it is now the new policies could be confusing for the students and teachers to understand. There are many students who are currently having two classes graded on a different grading scale. Similarly, many teachers are having to grade on two different scales. If this new policy was enacted across the district then most of the confusion would not be present.