1. Holmdel High School PTSO Meeting 11 November 2013

2. Principal’s Report “Sustaining Excellence” Grading Policies and Exam Weights Parent Conferences

3. Updates

4. Middle States Update Mission Statement Holmdel High School, in a safe, student-centered, and rigorous learning environment, promotes academics, athletics, and the arts, values the cultural diversity of its community and, through varied curricular and co-curricular programs, empowers all students to develop their potential into achievement and take their place in our global society as ethical decision makers and life-long learners.

5. Parent Surveys Areas of Strength Strength of academic program; Student access to a wide variety of extra-curricular activities; All stakeholders feel safe; Commitment of staff to students and to school; Positive relations between school leaders and parents. Areas in Need of Improvement Quality of student services; Career awareness activities; Quality of food service; Class placement; Opportunities for parents to participate in school improvement planning.

6. Middle States – Next Steps Sub Committees – 12 Standards – Academic Integrity – Service Learning

7. Considering Grades and Exams at Holmdel High School

8. Mid-Term and Final Exams Failure Rate 2012-2013 School Year StudentsExamsZeroes Mid-Terms26137718 Finals384641133

9. How did we get here? Limited value due to low weight Students don’t take them seriously enough Not most efficient use of time No clear vision as to their purpose Affected by grade scale and method of grade reporting

10. Process Spring 2011 – Discussion at BIC Meetings – Exam Analysis Fall 2011 – Gathering Data from Top NJ Schools – Surveys (Staff – Students – Parents) – Evaluate Options – Make Recommendations to BOE (Dec. 2011)

11. Problem: How to balance the concerns of students and parents (stress), while at the same time designing meaningful and appropriately rigorous assessments?

12. Recommendations For the 2012-2013 school year: Increase weight of final exam to 10% of overall grade (exam would be departmental in nature, and would embrace UbD principles) ; Continue to administer a mid-year assessment, but embed it in 2 nd MP ( 10% of MP grade ), eliminating mid-term time schedule ( assessment would be developed and administered by individual teachers); Offer exemptions for ALL students with an “A” average going into final exam (full year courses only)

13. Recommendations Beyond the 2012-2013 school year: Consider reporting number grades on transcripts rather than letter grades; Consider modification of grading scale to reward high achievement within letter grade (i.e. “plusses”)

14. C & I Committee Reaction - Concerns about a “band-aid” approach; perhaps the root of the problem was in the grade scale - Asked for more information about how other school set grade scales; IF a change to our grade scale was made, could render moot the issue of exam weights

15. Our Current Grade Scale Final GradeLetterQuality Points (QP) Weighted QP Honors / AP 100 - 90A4.05.0 89-80B3.04.0 79-70C2.03.0 69-60D1.0 59 and belowF0.0

16. How to Report Grades? Letters? Numbers? Plusses (+) / Minuses(-) ? Effect on GPA?

17. Current Scale - Letters Strengths Limitations Doesn’t reward effort within a grade category Lessens level of student motivation May hurt some students with college admissions Allows for variance in grading Lessens level of student stress Allows students to be in best light with college admissions

18. Numerical Strengths Limitations Consistency of Grading Student Stress All grades are in play and all assessments matter Complete Transparency

19. Plusses (+) and Minuses (-) Strengths Limitations Consistency of Grading Greater Student Stress Greater Transparency Greater Student Motivation

20. What Do Other Schools Do?

21. What Might a Revised Grade Scale Look Like? Final GradeLetterQuality Points (QP)Weighted QP (Honors / AP) 90-100A4.05.0 87-89 B+ B+3.674.67 80-86B3.04.0 77-79 C+ C+2.673.67 70-76C2.03.0 67-69 D+ D+1.671.67 60-66D1.0 59 and belowF0.0

22. Now, back to those exams….

23. Mid-Term and Final Exams Failure Rate 2012-2013 School Year StudentsExamsZeroes Mid-Terms26137718 Finals384641133

24. The landscape is changing…

25. 2014-2015 Academic Assessment Calendar – September / October SGO Pre-Assessments – January Mid-Terms; SGO Monitoring – March PARCC and SGO Post-Assessment – May AP Exams and NJ Biology Competency Test (BCT) – June PARCC and Final Exams

26. Considerations Maintain Status Quo – 10% of Overall Grade Double Weight of Exams – 20% of Overall Grade No Mid-Terms – Finals ONLY – 10% of Overall Grade Quarterly Exams – embedded in each Marking Period No Exams – 25% for each Marking Period What impact, if any, will a change in the grade scale have?

27. Next Steps Next meeting with C&I Committee – Nov. 13 th NOTE: Any changes will go into effect for 2014-2015 school year

28. Parent Conferences

29. Thursday, Dec. 5 th – 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Friday, Dec. 6 th – 12:40 pm to 2:00 pm Tuesday, Dec. 10 th – 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

30. Questions