This is an old revision of the document!
The Bethlehem Area School District incorporated a new grading policy in the Fall of 2023. Classwork and homework cannot count towards what is called an “achievement” grade. The achievement grade is the grade that shows up on the report card at the end of the semester. The only grades that can be entered as achievement grade are assessments. This grading policy was conceived in order to emphasize students being able to master the content, and proving mastery in the form of assessments.
Furthermore, since assessments are the only grade that is counted towards the achievement grade, there has to be relearning, and reassessment time in class. After the initial assessment, there has to be class time devoted to relearning the material, and class time devoted to reassessing the students.
My method assessing, relearning, and relearning are as follows, and encompass three classes.
Class one:
I would give an assessment and have it graded it by the end of the day.
Class two:
I would give the assessments back and instead of going over it as a class, the student would do a portfolio entry on the assessment (see “portfolio guidelines” attached below). Details for the portfolio entry are specific to me and can/should vary from teacher to teacher, especially if they don’t teach the same subject. In short, my portfolio entry requires that students pick 5 questions from the assessment and reflect on them. They’re supposed to pick the questions that they got incorrect first, and if needed, to supplement with any questions that they got correct, but found interesting. Every student, regardless of their assessment grade is doing a portfolio entry! The class would end with some of the students making an important decision. For the students that received below an 80%, they will be reassessing the next class period. However, the students that received above an 80% have a decision to make. If they would like to reassess, they are allowed to. If they want to do the enrichment, they are allowed to, but now the enrichment boosts their original assessment score by 5%, maxing out at 100%.
Here’s are some examples:
- If Lia received an 85% on their first assessment and they choose to do the enrichment, their 85% will be bumped to a 90%. However, if they decide to reassess, their grade could be as high as a 100%. If Lia chooses enrichment, they’re going into it knowing that their grade will be 90% upon completion. The decision that they must make is whether they think they’ll get better than a 90% if they choose to reassess. The choice is up to them!
Class three:
Reassessment and enrichment period!