Proposal would mean grading scale changes for most school systems
NASHVILLE (AP) — The State Board of Education is set to vote Friday on a uniform high school grading system that aims to ensure fairness for all Tennessee students vying for lottery scholarships but will require most systems to change their policies.
Board officials say if the proposal is approved, it will mean schools awarding an A for 90 points and above will have to move their scales up 3 points to a 93. However, 68 percent of the school systems will have to lower their standards under the proposal.
The General Assembly passed a law last session requiring a standard system based on a 4.0 grade point average.
“It’s legislative-demanded, and personally I think it makes sense,” said Dr. Gary Nixon, executive director of the board. “It’s difficult to make change, but what the committee tried to do is make the playing field level for small systems as well as large systems for lottery scholarships.”
Lottery-funded college scholarships are awarded based in part on high school grades. A student must have a 3.0 GPA and a minimum score on one of two standardized college entrance exams to get a scholarship worth up to $4,000 at a Tennessee institution. Some lawmakers had worried that differing grading scales were putting some students at a disadvantage.
The grading proposal also will give new curriculum requirements for high school honors courses and provide an appropriate way to add points to the ending semester and quarterly grades for honors and vocational classes.
A committee of educators and Tennessee School Board Association representatives, appointed by the Board of Education, met for two months to study the various grading systems being used across the state.
They found the most common scale scored a 94 to 100 as an A. In the proposed grading scale 100 to 93 is an A, 92 to 85 is a B, 84 to 75 is a C, 74 to 70 is a D and everything below is considered failing.
“So much of grading is subjective and it’s up to the determination of the teacher,” said Stephen Smith, director of government relations for the School Board Association. “The state does have standards, but the teacher is doing the individual grading. They constitute what’s an A.”
He said most of his group’s member supported a uniform system, but others have expressed reservations.
“There are some concerns from the school systems with wider ranges that (the changes) may be a disadvantage for their students. Another argument is that the grading scales should be a local school board decision,” Smith said.
The committee is also proposing that high school honors courses practice five of nine set requirements to measure class difficulty. If approved, honors courses have to include extended reading and research writing assignments; projects relating the course to current world issues; student-designed class investigations; various mode and style writing exercises; use of appropriate course related technology; deep exploration of the subject’s culture and values; extensive problem solving exercises; and job shadowing.
As far as grade weighting for the advanced courses, honors and vocational classes will be able to add three points to final grades. Advance placement and international baccalaureate courses can give an additional five points.
If the proposals are approved and pass an April review, the changes could be implemented by the fall.
“We have to make a choice and everyone is not going to be happy,” Nixon said.