LTHS Grading Policy: Hundreds Object To Changes

La Grange IL

09 December, 2021

8:18 AM

Description

LA GRANGE, IL — Nearly 900 people have signed a petition against Lyons Township High School's grading policy, but the school contends it benefits students. Under the policy, grades are entirely dependent on tests. Homework doesn't factor into grades, but the petitioners argue it should. The policy started last school year. The petition, which started earlier this week, says students are struggling with the policy. "It does not allow homework, quizzes, participation, attendance, or effort to be counted in students' grades. Instead, students' grades are made up entirely (100%) out of their summative assessments," the Change.org petition says. "These summative assessments can be retaken, and this creates a habitual cycle of retakes and is extremely difficult for teachers to implement." A similar debate is occurring in neighboring Hinsdale High School District 86. That district has made tests 90 to 100 percent of grades in a few classes. As in Lyons Township, the policy has drawn protests. Unlike District 86, Lyons Township's policy is universal. The school has posted a frequently-asked-questions page about the grading policy on its website. On that page, the school explains its decision to exclude homework in grades. "A grade is a measure of achievement, not practice," the school says. "Assigning a grade on the first attempt at something measures prior knowledge instead of new learning. But that doesn't mean that homework doesn't 'count.'" The school acknowledges some students will be tempted to skip homework because it doesn't factor into their grades. But it contends homework is the necessary practice to perform better on tests. The school also says that many teachers require completion of homework before students retake tests. Some contend students get stressed out if they have to rely on one test rather than many assignments. But the school says students are better prepared for tests if they regularly do homework and receive timely feedback. The school indicates it has received questions about why grading methods lack consistency through the entire school. The school says its new policy is working to change that. Hinsdale High School District 86 has faced similar issues. Before this year, Hinsdale Central and South high schools had more than 30 different grading scales. The district says it is correcting that issue. Lyons Township's new policy featured a number of other changes, including: Extra credit will not be offered.An M grade will be used in the gradebook to indicate missing work.Attendance will not be factored into grades. Class grades will not be curved. The petition calls for immediately repealing the entire policy and resuming "proven" methods of teaching, testing and accountability. "The risks to students' success FAR OUTWEIGH any benefit one could conceive at this point," the petition says. "No other high school in our area has such an extreme Policy for Grading."