Sample High School Grading Policy and Procedures
Model Student Document for Class Rules, Extra Credit, and Plagiarism
Sep 3, 2008
Are you feeling a little overwhelmed with creating your classroom policy and procedures? The habits you help students develop at the new school year are crucial and difficult to alter once they have been ingrained. Perhaps you'd like some ideas about how to create some clear student expectations involving important matters such as your grading system. Here is a classroom policy model for establishing a concrete system for grading as well as dealing with extra credit opportunities and the possibility of plagiarism.
Grading Policy
Class participation is key to student success; therefore, a participation grade is included each quarter. However, student cannot succeed if they are not prepared for class. Hence, the following system applies:
- Students will automatically be given 50 points for participation. Student will lose up to five points every time he or she is not participating in class. A student is participating when he or she speaks voluntarily, pays attention, listens actively, and works on daily assignments as directed in class.
- Students will automatically be given 50 additional points for preparedness. Students will lose up to five points every time the he or she is not prepared for class with pen, pencil, paper, binder, textbook or novel. No excuses! Be responsible-- bring the correct materials every day and remember a pencil on test days.
Everyone begins class with a 100% A average, and now it is up to you to keep it.
Total points earned from tests, quizzes, essays, daily and homework assignments will be converted to a percentage/letter grade based on the county grading scale:
90 – 100 = A
80 – 89 = B
70 – 79 = C
60 – 69 = D
0 – 59 = F
Cheating/ Plagiarism
Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses and will not be tolerated. Any student who is found to be cheating on homework, a quiz or a test shall receive a failing grade or zero, shall forfeit the right to make-up the assignment, quiz or test, and shall be dealt with by administration relative to the Student Handbook. Additionally, any classroom material submitted for evaluation determined to be plagiarized shall be given a failing grade or zero, shall forfeit the right to make-up the assignment, and shall be dealt with by administration relative to the Student Handbook.
Be aware that copying from another student or allowing another student to copy from you is not acceptable on any assignment or in any situation other than teacher-assigned group work. This behavior is called cheating, not helping, and will result in the procedures described above.
Extra Credit
Extra credit is given sparingly in this class. Extra credit is extra work and is not meant to replace work not completed in class.One such opportunity is the “summer reading” extra credit opportunity, which is available during the first quarter. For extra credit, students can take a test on a summer reading novel and enjoy points being added to their final quarter average.
Many benefits exist for having your classroom policies and procedures in writing and up front. This way, students will know what to expect, feel more comfortable, and can prepare accordingly. Further, you will enjoy peace of mind knowing you can at any time refer to a structured grading plan. You may even find it strengthens your classroom management plan. Be sure to distribute this document early in the school year so there is no room for student interpretation. You will enjoy a smoother school year when students know how to proceed in your class.
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