This year the grading policy was changed in an effort to standardize the system. Although the new grading policy was adopted in 2003, it has been modified slightly every year to include the new updates from the Board of Education (BOE). The grading policy was altered after the BOE recommended the usage of the same three weighted categories across the county. The categories, summative assessments, formative assessments and homework completion are used instead of the different weight system and total points system among all teachers.

Formative assessments are designed to determine whether students are learning what is being taught for the purpose of adjusting instruction and may include formal as well as informal assessments.  Summative assessments are designed to determine whether students know and can do what has been taught after instruction. Although reassessment opportunities may be provided for formative assessments at the teacher’s discretion, summative assessments are not eligible for reassessment.

Teachers can still use the total points system, where the student’s grade is simply determined by dividing total points earned into total points possible. However, the total points method now comes with several restrictions set by the BOE. Teachers must inform students and parents how many assignments are given, how many points each is worth at the beginning of the year.

“Other schools have to abide by stricter change,” said social studies teacher Steve Miller, lead grade book advisor. “But WJ tries to give as much freedom as possible toward teachers.”

Some teachers wonder if the BOE is going too far and obstructing teacher’s freedom to plan out the curriculum. Karl Savage, an English teacher, worked as a member of the One Text committee which is a representative body comprised of executive staff, community superintendent, principals, teachers, and parents, tasked with taking the board policy and creating procedures that would be used by teachers.

“I was surprised when the Board pushed system-wide to teacher’s choice,” said Savage. “[The decision] definitely did not come from a representative body.”

Not all teachers agreed with Savage’s point, however.

“In general, the grading policy was formulated after reviewing the concerns of all stakeholders and therefore, it should be viewed favorably by everyone involved in the implementation,” said Amy Vachon, the acting English Resource Teacher.