Section 500
Policy 515

Educational Services - Grades,Report Cards, Transcripts

1. Standards Based Achievement Grades shall be used for reporting achievement of students in grades 3 through 12. These grades are based on assessments that measure achievement of learning expectations as specified in the curriculum adopted by the Board of Education. Effort, work completion and other academic/social behaviors are not to be used for determining Standards Based Achievement Grades (see paragraph B). A letter grade based upon the calculated percentage level attained on multiple standards based assessments shall be used.
   
   
   • A = 90 to 100% = Advanced Achievement
   • B = 80 to 89% = High Proficient Achievement
   • C = 70 to 79% = Proficient Achievement
   • D = 60 to 69% = Partially Proficient Achievement
   • F = 0 to 59% = Unsatisfactory Achievement
   
   
   
2. Standards Based Indicators of students’ skill development based on the learning expectations as specified in the curriculum adopted by the Board of Education shall be used for reporting achievement of students in kindergarten through grade 2.
   
   
3. Separate scales/ratings may be used for grading student effort and academic/social behaviors including attendance, participation, completion of assignments, completion of homework, and behavior in and out of classrooms or these components may be factored into the Standards Based Achievement Grade with a weighting of no more than 10% of the total grade.
   
   
4. Students found to have cheated or to be guilty of plagiarism shall be issued a “0” numerical percent correct for the particular assignment or test.
   
   
5. Grades issued by teachers may only be changed when cheating or plagiarism is identified after a grade is issued, if the teacher has recognized that a mistake was made, or if the teacher has been found to have engaged in a purposeful, discriminatory or biased action against a student.
   
   
6. Students and parents are to be informed of requirements at the beginning of the year or course. Grades are to be posted on the District’s student data management system and accessible to students and parents throughout the term of instruction.
   
   
7. Peer grading of student assignments and classroom assessments is permissible.

1. Instruction shall be based upon content standards and learning expectations adopted by the Board of Education.
   
   
2. The Board of Education does not prescribe a specific model of instruction to be used by teachers. However, several tenets of learning have been well supported by research and set the framework for instruction in the District:
   
   
   
   1. Students can learn well under appropriate instructional conditions. The assumption that failure is an inevitable part of schooling is rejected.
      
      
   2. The time learners spend on educational tasks is a critical element in effective learning and an important consideration in structuring learning activities.
      
      
   3. Learners in any given classroom will manifest a wide range of abilities and learning styles that must be addressed by an array of instructional methods.
      

1. Principals shall assure that Report Cards are issued and that these cards show grades and descriptors as listed in Article 1 of this policy. Report cards may also show effort and academic/social behavior grades. Student attendance – days present, excused absences and unexcused absences are to be included on report cards.
   
   
2. Results of the Colorado State Assessment Program (CSAP) shall be provided to parents and shall be made part of the student’s permanent academic record.
   
   
3. Results of the ACT testing required by the state shall be included on each student’s transcript. However, if the student retakes the exam at a later time, the student may request that the later results be placed on the transcript in place of the earlier results.
   
   
4. Report cards are to be permanently kept in each student’s cumulative educational record.
   
   
5. Transcripts showing all course work, numerical grade averages, and status on passing graduation proficiency requirements shall be kept for each high school student as a permanent record.

1. At least one teacher-parent conference shall be scheduled each semester..